BUILDINGS & GROUNDS
Phase One of SIP Project Ends with Tree Planting Oberlin College planted the first of 126 trees that will dot the campus and town as replacements for the trees that were removed to install underground distribution pipes as part of the college’s ambitious Sustainable Infrastructure Program (SIP). The goal of SIP is to upgrade the college’s century-old heating infrastructure to a hot water system, a major step toward Oberlin’s goal of achieving a carbon-neutral campus by 2025. This work will enable a large-scale geothermal system, add 8
cooling to buildings, and implement other structural improvements that will increase student and faculty comfort year-round. Minimally, every tree that was removed will be replaced—in some cases, with two trees—with 65 trees planted on campus and 61 in the city. A wide range of considerations, including the city’s tree replacement guide, species native to Ohio, the interplay of diverse species, the structural integrity of a species, and aesthetics, went into the criteria used for selecting the trees and
their planting locations. “Our goal is to make choices today that will stand the test of time,” says Becky Bode, grounds service manager, who is spearheading the reinstall alongside arborist Al Shauck. “We selected trees that will thrive on campus and enhance the experience for those attending Oberlin 100 years from now.” Included is the American larch, a specimen now found only in Oberlin’s nearby arboretum, says Bode. Bigleaf magnolia was selected for its rarity and beauty. Other trees carry an added historical reference, such as the hackberry tree, which was once used for flooring and barrel hoops in pioneer days.
The deciduous conifer American Larch, which has oval, winged seeds that are dispersed by the wind and feed mice and voles throughout the winter, is among the tree species being planted in Oberlin.
Y VONNE GAY
Around Tappan Square