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LANDSCAPE VISION + GOALS The Landscape Design Guidelines provide fundamental direction and overall strategies for creating a unified campus landscape. Each landscape within the campus presents different aesthetic, environmental, and functional qualities, and the guidelines inform knowledgeable responses to those qualities. No design solution is appropriate for every condition; however, following the Landscape Design Guidelines ensures each solution supports the goal of developing an enriching and aesthetically comprehensive landscape vision. The Guiding Concepts are key influential factors to consider for each landscape design, while the Landscape Elements are more specific features of the overall landscape fabric that should be clearly defined, aesthetically and functionally, throughout the campus.

GUIDING CONCEPTS

SITE DEVELOPMENT During initial planning, several key factors should dictate any site development or redevelopment options. Building placement should prioritize pedestrian circulation and universal access within the campus. Buildings should be configured to align with circulation patterns, streetscapes, and other key open spaces. Any structures planned adjacent to open spaces should be sited and configured to mitigate potential impacts of shading, glare, bulk, and height. Building entrances, interior/exterior transitions, courtyards, and other gathering spaces should be clearly expressed to facilitate orientation. Additionally, any future expansion needs should be considered in the initial development of the site. Site developments should also consider environmentally sustainable practices such as preserving existing open space, preserving significant legacy trees, minimizing east-west solar exposure, using native vegetation, and shading hardscapes when possible.

CLIMATE Mitigating the hot, humid climate of Louisiana is vital to the success of the campus landscape. Comfortable spaces promote a more active educational environment. Protection from the sun, wind, and rain should be considered in any open space or landscape. Tree selections should be based upon scale, location, ease of maintenance, and longevity. Alleés of dense tree canopies should provide shade along vehicular and pedestrian corridors. Tree groves should offer respite from the elements in open spaces, quadrangles, and courtyards. Deciduous trees should be used in key locations to provide warmth and sunlight in the winter.

HYDROLOGY Water is an important aspect of any Louisiana landscape, and it is no different in the campus environment. Even more vital is the management of that water within the campus setting. Collecting stormwater and facilitating infiltration and cleansing are key functional benefits of on-site stormwater management, but these practices also offer distinct visual interest and provide essential habitat for native wildlife. In larger open spaces, naturalistic, vegetated swales and wetlands should be used to collect and convey water, while more formal rain gardens and bio-swales should be used within the core campus. A mix of water-loving trees such as Bald Cypress

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and Swamp Red Maple, as well as native grasses, reeds, and perennials should be used to maximize the functional and visual qualities, as these become purposeful, designed features.

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION The spatial organization of individual spaces and the collective campus is a principle concept of the campus landscape design. Vehicular and pedestrian corridors begin to organize spaces on the ground plane, but plantings, buildings and topography are the primary means of defining a three-dimensional space. When designing any landscape, the space-defining and -organizing role of each plant should supersede its specific physical characteristics such as flower color or leaf texture. Trees can be used to provide an overall framework of a space, block or direct views, or define the hierarchy of several adjacent spaces, while lower plantings can direct pedestrian circulation or create more intimate sub-spaces. Natural and man-made topographical features can be used to buffer views or create dynamic landscape spaces.

SCALE Using plants and plant compositions that are proportionately scaled to their surroundings is closely related to their use in spatial organization and equally important. Landscapes should complement the scale of the surrounding buildings and adjacent spaces while also considering other factors such as safety, visibility, maintenance, and longevity. Larger canopy trees and naturalistic masses or “sweeps” of plantings are appropriate in larger open spaces and along roadways. Smaller ornamental trees and more detailed garden designs should be reserved for spaces that are clearly defined by buildings or other structures, as well as other intensively used spaces. Individual landscape designs should be simple and should relate to the geometry of buildings or other structures whenever possible.

OVERALL LANDSCAPE CHARACTER As an overarching concept, a diverse palette of native and old southern garden standard plant species should be used in the landscape design whenever possible. Native plants are adapted to the regional environment, which minimizes maintenance and disease and maximizes hardiness and longevity. Additionally, the use of native and old southern garden plant species will ensure the campus respects the historical landscape character of the local and regional communities. A list of suggested plant species is located at the end of Landscape Elements section.

Stormwater management can be both functional and visually appealing.

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Plant diversity is important in maintaining the overall health of the landscape, as well as providing key visual interest, but aesthetic continuity should not be sacrificed for the sake of diversity. Non-native plant species should be non-invasive and should be used appropriately. Plants with significant physical or biological differences from native species should not be used on campus, except for specific and approved purposes.

WATER USE EFFICIENCY Water is a valuable natural resource, and several strategies should be employed to ensure its efficient use throughout the campus landscape. Alternative irrigation sources should be considered whenever possible. These include the use of greywater and stormwater, which can be harvested and stored in above-ground or subsurface cisterns. Individual sub-meters should be installed on main line irrigation sources to monitor and control water use. Also, native plants generally require little to no irrigation after establishment, which significantly reduces the overall irrigation needs of the campus.

ACCESSIBILITY A primary goal for any campus landscape design should be to accommodate access to all public spaces and facilities by incorporating the standards set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the principles of Universal Design. These standards and principles focus on: accommodating users with a wide range of physical abilities; providing spaces with intuitive uses regardless of experience, knowledge, language skills, or concentration level; effectively communicating necessary information regardless of ambient conditions or sensory abilities; minimizing hazards and the consequences of accidents; and providing appropriate sizes and spaces for circulation, reach, manipulation, and use. Accessibility should be considered an integral part of pedestrian and landscape design, not an afterthought.

LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS

GATEWAYS, PORTALS, CAMPUS EDGE Major entrances to campus shall be marked with gateways, reinforced by architectural and landscape elements to signify entry at a vehicular scale. New gateways should be placed at the nodes of major campus arterial connections and the surrounding community. Entry and arrival should be conveyed through detailing and materials consistent with other signage, lighting, and wayfinding details throughout the campus. Existing gateways should be supplemented with landscape improvements, architectural elements, and/or lighting improvements. Other entrances to campus should consist of intermediately scaled portals reinforced with architectural and landscape elements detailed appropriately for their scale and context. These portals should give consideration to wayfinding, screening, and view corridors and should be sensitive to existing conditions of adjacent neighborhoods. Portals should be sized appropriately to pedestrian and vehicular scales, with emphasis on the pedestrian if possible. Campus edges should be reinforced without the creation of visual or physical barriers in order to maintain connections to adjacent neighborhoods and infrastructure and to facilitate interaction with the existing community.

VEHICULAR CORRIDORS Vehicular corridors on campus should have a clear hierarchy in regards to overall width, while maintaining a consistent aesthetic. Vehicular corridors should be planted with medium-to-large street trees of consistent size and spacing to provide

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shade, a sense of scale, and visual consistency. Street trees should be of a singular species for the length of a particular street; however, they should not be the same throughout campus and should be used to reinforce street hierarchy. The standard paving material and edge treatment should be consistent for every road, with key accent materials being used when appropriate, such as intersections or crosswalks. Bike lanes should be accommodated when possible to deemphasize motorized traffic.

PEDESTRIAN CORRIDORS Pedestrian corridors should be of a consistent material and have a clear hierarchical relationship to each other throughout campus to provide clearer, more effective pedestrian circulation. Pedestrian pathways should be integrated into the landscape to the greatest extent possible, and the pathways and adjacent planting should be scaled appropriately within their surrounding context. Pedestrian paths and planting should also be used to define the boundaries of larger open spaces. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic should be separated wherever possible to provide a safer environment for pedestrians. Points of pedestrian and vehicular interaction should be clearly delineated with features such as crosswalks or plazas, and these features should include traffic-calming details such as material changes, speed tables, and signage at both vehicular and pedestrian scales.

Vehicular corridors create identity for the campus, pedestrian comfort, and a sense of arrival.

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QUADRANGLES + OPEN SPACES Larger quadrangles within the core campus should have denser shrub and tree planting around the perimeter to help define the overall space and separate it from bounding vehicular or pedestrian circulation pathways. A sense of openness should be maintained within the interior of the space by accommodating large turf grass lawns. However, small groves of trees should be strategically placed to provide shade and to create more intimate spaces where desired. Smaller courtyard spaces, usually associated with individual buildings, should be considered as intimate outdoor living rooms, suitable for studying or small gatherings. Shade and ornamental trees of an appropriate scale should be used in formal arrangements for visual interest and physical comfort. Paving may be more decorative or detailed, and the spaces should include special lighting, seatwalls, benches, moveable furniture, or other elements to enhance the space’s character. Generally, efforts should be made to preserve and enhance existing green spaces, while maximizing the footprint of new open spaces. New or enhanced open spaces should consider the Guiding Concepts outlined previously, as well as design elements such as preserving views, creating meaningful spaces, reinforcing a sense of place, visual buffering or screening, adjacent land uses, and natural features. Native vegetation should be used wherever possible.

EXISTING TREE CANOPY ENHANCEMENT / LEGACY TREE PLANTING During any project, an effort should be made to preserve and enhance the existing tree canopy of the campus by including native, legacy trees in the design solution. Legacy trees are single trees or groups of trees that, due to their age, size, species, quality, or historic association, are of importance to the landscape in which they are located. The trees should be appropriately selected based on scale, project location, and any applicable microclimate conditions. A list of trees at the end of this section highlights potential legacy tree selections. An overall Legacy Tree Plan should be developed as a holistic framework for the campus, detailing appropriate Legacy Tree species, sizes, and spacing along all major vehicular and pedestrian corridors.

Dense tree planting along the edges of quad areas defines the space and provides pedestrian comfort.

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SIGNAGE + WAYFINDING Consistent and legible signage should be included throughout campus. Signage should be appropriately scaled to its context and should be located so as to be clearly visible without being visually distracting. All signage should be of a consistent hierarchical size, and text should be legible and concise. Paving patterns and adjacent plantings should accommodate signage, and they should be detailed to further facilitate wayfinding on campus through distinctive, yet unified material palettes. Larger gateway markers should be located at the primary vehicular entrances into campus. These should be monument-style elements with integrated architectural features, lighting, and university graphics to clearly signify entry onto campus. They may be between 5’-15’ in height. Smaller monument signs, between 4’-5’ in height, may be used to identify secondary campus gateways or significant buildings. Text size for these should be appropriately sized for vehicular interpretation. Vehicular wayfinding signage should typically be pole-mounted to minimize their visual distraction. They should be located at most intersection approaches and periodically along all vehicular corridors to assist in vehicular circulation. Their height should be between 7’-9’, and their text size should be optimized for vehicular viewing. Pedestrian wayfinding signage should aesthetically match their vehicular counterparts, but they should generally be smaller in overall scale, with an overall height of 5’-7’. Text size and other graphics should also be scaled down proportionately for pedestrians. They should be located at the intersections of and along major pedestrian corridors to assist in pedestrian circulation as needed. It is recommended that comprehensive Signage and Wayfinding Design Guidelines for all signage elements be developed. These design guidelines should include: a clear hierarchy of signage types with detailed drawings for each type; potential locations for each signage type; graphic standards such as colors, layout, fonts, font sizes, and logos; and an approved material palette for each sign type.

LIGHTING An aesthetically consistent family of fixtures should be established for the campus, focusing on overall style, height, material, color and light quality. Each fixture within the lighting family should also be durable, easily maintained, and resistant to high wind loads. The aesthetics of the fixtures should also complement the signage and wayfinding elements, as they are often grouped together. Lighting for the campus should create a safe, secure environment with no deep shadows, while still using “dark-sky friendly” fixtures to minimize light pollution. The design for all lighting should conform to CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) standards. Fixture size, location, and intensity should be scaled to the surrounding context to provide appropriate lighting for security and visibility. Fixture placement should also be coordinated with tree canopies to ensure future conflicts are avoided. It is recommended that detailed Lighting Design Guidelines be developed to regulate all lighting design on campus.

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Generally, the configuration of fixture height, location, and spacing should provide the following illuminance values throughout campus: Location Fixture Ht. Average Foot Candles (Min.) Parking Lots 18’-25’ 3.0 (1.0) Primary Vehicular Corridors 18’-25’ 1.6 (1.0) Secondary / Tertiary Vehicular Corridors 15’-20’ 0.8 (0.4) Pedestrian Crosswalks 15’-20’ 4.5 (1.5) Pedestrian Corridors 10’-12’ 3.0 (1.0) Bike Paths (if not adjacent to roadway) 10’-12’ 0.7 (0.5) (recommendations based upon the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America guidelines)

SITE FURNISHINGS Site furnishing, including benches, tables and chairs, litter and ash receptacles, and bicycle racks, should be durable and easily maintained, while complementing the aesthetics of other elements such as light fixtures and signage. Furnishing materials should be well suited for outdoor use, as well as comfortable. A specific product or group of products for each furnishing type should be selected for use throughout campus, and all furnishings should be similar or matching in color. Furnishings should be located in a variety of placements around campus to accommodate various scenery and social settings.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS During any design project, additional consideration should be given to overall service and maintenance access and campus safety. Loading zones, dumpster location and access, service entrances, and other service areas necessary for campus operation should be screened using landscape or architectural elements that are appropriate in scale, material, and detailing. They should also be located away from main pedestrian circulation pathways wherever possible. In regards to campus safety, a quick response program should be established to ensure timely and efficient repairs for maintenance issues such as broken windows, graffiti removal, lighting replacement, and damaged fixture replacement. The program should also include protocol for managing items such as removal of dense plant growth along walkways, trimming tree canopies around surveillance cameras, and eliminating potential hiding spots within the landscape.

SUGGESTED PLANT LIST The following list outlines plant materials which are native to the north Louisiana region or may be appropriate for use in the campus setting.

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TREES

LARGE ‘Autumn Blaze’ Red Maple Acer rubrum ‘Autumn Blaze’ ‘October Glory’ Red Maple Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’ ‘Red Sunset’ Red Maple Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ Sentry Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba ‘Fastigiata’ Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera Claudia Wannamaker Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora ‘Claudia Wannamaker’ Southern Red Oak Quercus falcata Nuttall Oak Quercus nuttallii Shumard Oak Quercus shumardii Live Oak Quercus virginiana Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum Pond Cypress Taxodium ascendens

MEDIUM Drummond Red Maple Acer rubrum var. ‘Drummondii’ American Holly Ilex opaca Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana Patriot Elm Ulmus americana ‘Patriot’ Allee Elm Ulmus parvifolia ‘EmerII’ P.P. #7552

Bald Cypress is an example of an ideal native species for use on campus.

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SMALL Green Japanese Maple Acer palmatum Red Japanese Maple Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ Fringe Tree Chionanthus virginicus Silverbell Halesia diptera Crape Myrtle (Single Trunk, Specimen) Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez White’, ‘Tuscarora’, or ‘Muskogee’ Saucer Magnolia Magnolia x soulangiana Flameleaf Sumac Rhus copallina Vitex Vitex agnus-castus

SHRUBS

LARGE Camellia Camellia japonica Shi Shi Gashira Sasanqua Camellia Camellia sasanqua ‘Shi Shi Gashira’ Emily Bruner Holly Ilex x ‘Emily Bruner’ Nellie R. Stevens Holly Ilex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ Teddy Bear Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora ‘Teddy Bear’

MEDIUM ‘Maidens’ Blush’ Sasanqua Camellia Camellia sasanqua ‘Maiden’s Blush’ ‘Clara’ Indian Hawthorne Raphiolepis indica ‘Clara’ Azaleas Rhododendron indica ‘George L. Tabor’, ‘Mrs. G. G. Gerbing’, or

‘Southern Charm’ ‘Louisiana’ Dwarf Palmetto Sabal minor ‘Louisiana’

SMALL Carissa Holly Ilex cornuta ‘Carissa’ Dwarf Yaupon Holly Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’ ‘Shi Shi Gashira’ Sasanqua Camellia Camellia sasanqua ‘Shi Shi Gashira’ Yellow Flag Iris Iris pseudacorus Indigo Indigofera kirilowii

NATIVE GRASSES / AQUATICS Dwarf Umbrella Plant Cyperus alternifolius Dwarf Papyrus Cyperus haspens Texas Star Hibiscus Hibiscus coccineus Louisiana Iris Mix Iris fulva, Iris brevicaulis, Iris nelsonii, Iris giganticaerulea Blue Arrows Rush Juncus inflexus ‘Blue Arrows’ Carmen’s Grey Blue Rush Juncus patens ‘Carmen’s Grey’

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Spike Rush Eleocharis spp. Berkley Sedge Carex divulsa Lizardtail Saururus cernuus Pink Coastal Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris

TURF GRASSES Zoysia Zoysia spp. ‘El Toro’, ‘Cavalier’, or ‘Palisades’ ‘Palmetto’ St. Augustine Stenotaphrum Secundatum ‘Palmetto’ Centipede Eremochloa ophiuroides

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