University of Texas at Dallas Landscape Enhancements

Challenge

Most established universities have an aesthetic patina that evolves from the maturation of a sound and forward-thinking masterplan. However, before the Landscape Framework Plan, the UT Dallas campus was a car-centric place which lacked architectural character. Therefore, the main challenges were creating an enduring campus identity within the short timeframe of the masterplan and designing a space that would foster social connections between current and future students, faculty, and staff.

Solution

The Landscape Framework Plan introduced numerous enhancements that would have a big, visible impact in a short timeframe. The first phase included major improvements to the main entry and central mall with the integration of plantings, water features and shaded seating areas would foster the social and aesthetic character that had been absent on campus. By replacing hardscape with pedestrian pathways intertwined with green space, the plan created a series of exciting and diverse spaces for the campus community.

• The 1.1-mile main entry drive is surrounded by a 71,825 sf native woodland typical of Texas’ Eastern Cross Timbers habitat. The forest was planted with over 5,000 trees, some of which were transplanted from other areas of the campus. The drive leads to a formal campus entry punctuated by a large arc of transplanted live oaks.
• Curb cuts intermittently placed along the drive’s median direct stormwater runoff into the native woodland, which is recognized as one of the largest rain gardens in the Dallas Fort Worth region.
• A central mall features a double allee of 116 ‘Claudia Wannamaker’ magnolia trees that flank 5 reflecting pools which stretch over 600 linear feet. This space offers a dynamic setting for student gathering, organized activity, and campus fairs. Students can set up tables on the grass under the double allee while keeping the 8 ft-wide pathway accessible.
• The central node of the mall contains a plaza with four 256-sf, human-scale chess boards and 1,112 linear ft of seat wall made of Austin-sourced granite. Two large walls serve as bulletin boards for student community notices and event postings.
• A series of perforated pipes beneath the central mall that allow for infiltration of stormwater into the water table.
• The mall terminates at a central plaza defined by a 25-ft tall arbor with wisteria vines, an 11,000-gallon ‘fog fountain’ (supplied by a recirculating water system), and two digital clock walls that provide a reference to the Texas Instruments’ legacy and the company’s ties to the campus.
• The 24,090 sf central arbor is constructed using FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer), a building material that is recognized as a green alternative because of its long lifespan and lower carbon footprint for production and maintenance. The structure creates dappled shade and is painted white to raise its albedo.
• Approximately 482 linear ft of 9-tiered amphitheater seating made of recycled IPE are located under the central arbor.
• Additional seating along the central mall includes 12 fixed-in-place tables with 48 seats, and over 50 movable chairs with tables located under the shaded building arcades.
• The design uses a 97% native plant palette, reducing irrigation water consumption as well as maintenance and upkeep costs.

• The central trellis, which is made of Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer (FRP), is the major sculptural element of the design. The cost of installation for FRP may be up to 20% higher than typical industry standards, but this structural material makes up for the price difference through its lower dead load, limited corrodibility, and a lifespan that is approximately twice as long a conventional metal building material. The central arbor utilizes approximately 45,400 linear ft of FRP with an approximate weight of 41,500 lbs. In comparison, this length of stainless steel pipe weighs over 200,500 lbs. This amounts to a 79% weight difference which is favorable to transportation, installation, and maintenance.

• With low-maintenance landscapes, formal maintenance plans are necessary to support the design intent. Absent from the initial design effort were a published maintenance plan and outreach strategy for campus facilities personnel. As a result, the University allocated unnecessary resources in the form of time, equipment and fuel to counter-productively maintain the native landscapes. Areas like the woodland at the campus entry have had their habitat potential stunted as a result of “too much maintenance”. This situation occurs throughout the region as landscape maintenance crews do not have experience working with the native plant palette and as a result, may over-water, over-weed and over-mow.
• The total cost for phase 1 was $30 million, with an additional $1 million donation designated for the maintenance and care of the trees. The project was originally budgeted at $6 million, until a private donation of $30 million arrived to fully implement the first phase of the vision laid out in the Landscape Framework Plan. The situation illustrates how an initial investment in a vision and a strategic masterplan can stimulate additional interest and streams of support.
• A catalyst project can instigate changes not only within the campus but also in the community at large. For example, now that phase 1 of the Landscape Framework Plan is in place, the planned ‘Cotton Belt’ line from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) with a transit plaza and mixed-use center directly north of the campus will be activated with multi-modal connections. The 2025 vision had the place-holder property valued at approximately $165 million (2010).

Project Team

Landscape Architecture: PWP Landscape Architecture
Consulting Engineers: Charles Gojer and Associates, Inc.
Registered Professional Surveyor: ARS Engineers, INC.
Horticulture: Dr. Robert Moon
Traffic and Parking: Fehr and Peers
Electrical Engineering: Blum Consulting Engineers
Architectural Consultants: David Neuman
Irrigation: James Pole Irrigation
Design Cost Estimation: Davis Langdon Adamson
Code Consultant: Schirmer Engineering
Site Lighting: Horton Lees Brogden
TAS/ADA Consultant: Accessology
Architects: JMA Johnson/McKibben Architects, Inc.
Structural Engineering: Gary Jaster
Site Signage and Graphics: C&G Partners LLC

Role of the Landscape Architect

The University of Texas at Dallas hired the landscape architect to develop a phased landscape framework plan that could help the University achieve its goal of obtaining Tier 1 status. For phase 1 of the campus improvements, the landscape architect led the design process, and acted as the project manager and administrator.