LANDSCAPE

Alcorn is located in a beautiful rural, forested setting that contributes to the unique character of the campus. Preserving the campus landscape with its historic clearings and manicured lawns is also a significant maintenance burden. These unique conditions inform the goals and proposals for the landscapes of both the Lorman and Natchez campuses.

Key goals for the landscape system are:

• Introduce more shade trees throughout the campuses while preserving the existing manicured grass lawns, to improve the usability and comfort of the grounds and paths while keeping them free of dangerous wildlife

• Preserve the agricultural lands on campus and increase their visibility to students and visitors

• Enhance paths, open spaces, interstitial spaces, and parking lots in active areas of campus or in tandem with other projects, including erosion and flood controls

• Introduce limited sections of low flowering ornamental vegetation in key open spaces such as the Yard and the Carter Dairy Welcome Center, to designate special attention

To achieve these goals, the campus plan proposes key landscape improvements across both campuses, categorized into five typologies:

• Plaza and Lawn Landscape

• Residential Courtyard Landscape

• Pedestrian Landscape

• Natural Trail Landscape

• Parking and Service Landscape

Descriptions of these typologies are provided on the following pages, while Figure 4.4 maps the locations of the key landscape and open space proposals.

Plaza and Lawn Landscape

Plaza and lawn landscapes provide settings for events, social interaction, gatherings, collaboration, and sharing of ideas and discourse. They include institutional plazas, amphitheaters, outdoor pavilions, formal lawns, parks, and building courtyards.

The improvements envisioned for this type of space are aimed at fostering and boosting community engagement, promoting a sense of belonging and pride, and creating welcoming and comfortable outdoor spaces. This will be achieved with the use of deciduous shade trees, low maintenance groundcover, annual plantings, container plantings, flexible seating, wayfinding features, pop-up kiosks, and spaces for temporary outdoor exhibitions.

Plaza and Lawn Landscape projects include:

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8. A new Athletics Plaza with improved tree cover and paving, for large events

9. A visitor gathering plaza for the Welcome Center and associated retail, centered around the historic silo

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10. The Central Pavilion and lawn, along with the Dining Terrace, Yard amphitheaters, and Library Lane

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15. On the Natchez Campus, an enhanced outdoor event terrace and yard around the Graduate Business Building

Residential Courtyard Landscape

Residential courtyards are spaces for gathering, socializing, and reflection which create a sense of place at an intimate scale. These landscapes are adjacent to student housing, faculty housing, and dining areas, and will be improved through the use of native shade trees, evergreen shrubs, groundcover, perennials and specialty hardscape.

Courtyard Landscape projects include:

11. A new residence hall courtyard and the adjacent Lott and Revels “Outdoor Living Room”

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12. The Honors Quad, nestled between the existing and proposed residence halls

13. A residential courtyard for faculty and staff housing at the Campus Gateway

16. On the Natchez Campus, a quad at the center of the new residence hall complex. 18

Pedestrian Landscape

Improving the overall pedestrian experience is a central goal of the campus plan. Landscape improvements for pedestrian routes will focus on primary pedestrian sidewalks, linear greenspaces, and building frontages. Strategies will focus on accommodating convenient pedestrian movements, providing shade, and creating viewsheds that celebrate the unique rural characteristics of the campus. Landscape elements will include native heritage trees clustered and spaced to enable maximum growth, wide sidewalks, wayfinding features, and benches.

Pedestrian Landscape projects include:

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6. Improvements along ASU Drive in the Lott and Revels neighborhood

7. Improvement to the campus core, including the pedestrianization of Alcorn Avenue and enhanced pedestrian paths through the Yard

14. Improvements along ASU Drive in the Core North and Honors neighborhood

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14. On the Natchez Campus, improved pedestrian connection between the residence halls and the academic facilities, plus an improved experience around the convenience store and food service.

Natural Trail Landscape

The Natural Trail landscape includes campus trails, swales, and infiltration areas. This typology not only provides habitat and environmental benefits, but also offers opportunities for secondary pedestrian connections and stormwater capture. Vegetation types will include native plantings and trees, and stormwater management features will encompass elements such as permeable paving.

Natural Trail Landscape projects include:

4. The enhancement of walkways and landscape in the greenway between the Math and Science Building and the Fine Arts Building, engaging with the existing stream

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5. The network of walking trails in the Campus Air Strip neighborhood, around the lakes

17. The core pedestrian link, a major trail linking the stadium parking to the campus core and Heritage Village

19, On the Natchez Campus, a fitness trail loop along the forest perimeter

Parking and Service Landscape

The parking and service landscape typology includes landscape and open spaces located in parking lots, and along building frontages, service areas, and campus utility equipment. Strategies for these areas include:

• Creating planted medians and islands in parking areas to reduce the visual impact of large expanses of asphalt, reduce heat island effects, and improve natural storm drainage

• Improving pedestrian routes within parking lots, and between lots and key campus destinations in order to encourage pedestrian travel. Specific strategies will include providing continuous paved pathways connecting to the broader campus pedestrian and trail network, planting native shade trees and shaded seating areas to improve outdoor comfort, and continuous lighting for safety

• Screening and buffering parking and other utilitarian areas with native trees, evergreen shrubs, and vegetative wall screens to enhance the overall beauty of the campus

Parking and Service Landscape projects include:

3. The Heritage Village parking lot 3 2 1

1. The Lott and Revels rear parking lot, including a new connection to the campus core

2. The consolidated core parking lots, west and north