Landscaping Planning Assumption

Axes, courts, and vistas should direct traffic, encourage relationships, and create pleasure, particularly in the more formal main core of campus. The open spaciousness of the perimeter areas should be maintained and preserved.In a remarkably short time in the 1950's the red soil and open fields of a farm in Forsyth County were developed into a pleasant, inviting campus. As trees matured and grass and foundation plantings became established, the classic plan of courtyards and vistas developed a serene beauty. Visitors and residents, students and alumni often remark that the beauty of the campus is one of the strongest assets of the University. Studies by the admissions and development offices indicate that the beauty of the campus is of great importance in attracting students and in promoting the goals of the University. Great care, therefore, must be taken to preserve and enhance the beauty of the campus. To neglect this important asset would be false economy and short-sighted in the extreme.A landscape study was completed in 1998 to assess the campus from a holistic viewpoint to ensure that future development is consistent with the original intended design. In their Campus Improvement Plan, Van Yahres and Associates stated several primary goals, including:

Circulation - Make the campus a walking community by emphasizing pedestrian traffic over vehicular traffic and parking. Better integrate parking into the overall organization and character of the campus.

This idea has been discussed within the Traffic and Parking and Campus Environment sections of this revision. All future building sites should consider this goal in the site development.

Spaces - Reinforce the original organization of campus, characterized by strong axial orientation of buildings in symbolic relation to one another within a system of interlocking courtyards and views.

As stated earlier in this revision, outlying areas should be developed in such a way as to maintain a natural linkage to the central campus area. The linkages should be naturally landscaped, rather than large parking areas and bare fields. Future building sites recommended within this revision provide opportunities for courtyard or natural areas among neighboring facilities. Such examples include building sites at Magnolia Court, and the remaining site at the science quad. The linkage of outlying areas such as the Worrell/IS Building area to main campus will also be reviewed. Commitment to the improvement of individual spaces on campus will serve to enhance the original layout and future development of campus.

Proposal
The Van Yahres study contained a number of major recommendations. The committee recommends that many of these recommendations be incorporated into the future plans of the University where appropriate. While some recommendations may be implemented individually or possibly in connection with other building projects, substantial capital will have to be devoted to see the entire plan to completion. General recommendations of the Van Yahres plan not discussed elsewhere in this document include: 

These recommendations and others are developed at length within the Van Yahres' study. As funds are appropriated, the Design Team and the Capital Planning Committee should implement these plans in detail following review.The landscape consultants should be included in the design process for all new facilities on campus to ensure that the surrounding landscape is developed properly.