LMP Planning Background by Auburn University Facilities Management

1. Planning Background CHAPTER CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

LMP PURPOSE

BASIS OF PLAN - POLICY

BASIS OF PLAN - RELEVANT / GUIDING PLANS

PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS

CAMPUS LANDSCAPE POLICY

LMP GOVERNANCE

LMP PROJECT APPROVAL PROCESS

PROJECT SCOPING STANDARD

GLOSSARY OF LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN TERMS

INTRODUCTION

LMP PURPOSE

BASIS OF PLAN - POLICY / GUIDING PLANS

The Auburn University campus landscape has evolved over the years since the institution’s founding in 1856. The campus has developed a distinct character during that 158 year period and that character is defined by the physical landform, Parkerson Mill Creek, the surrounding natural areas, the external use agricultural areas, the street grid, the pattern of buildings in the developed campus core, the pedestrian concourses, and a number of other iconic landscapes.

The purpose of the LMP is to provide prescriptive, rather that descriptive, requirements of a design approach that will guide the University toward implementation and realization of the landscape vision for the Auburn campus. The program and process (i.e. vision, goals, guidelines, standards, checklist, etc.) described within the LMP serve as a component, or sub-plan, of the Auburn University Comprehensive Campus Master Plan.

A clear basis and rationale for the creation and implementation of the Landscape Master Plan exists as a result of existing and established University policy. The Auburn University Board of Trustees adopted, on April 14, 2014, the Campus and Capital Projects Planning Policy (D-2). This policy provides the basis and policy foundation for the development of a Campus Master Plan and Capital Projects Plan. According to the policy:

The LMP document is intended to aid in defining the project scope as each campus project that affects Auburn University exterior facilities, including but not limited to buildings, roads, walkways, trails, grading, lighting, signage and landscape, is initiated. It is critical that the project’s limits be reviewed and set correctly at the beginning of every project so that the project budget accurately reflects the true project scope. The LMP provides a series of tools designed to ensure that each project is viewed within its larger campus context and that each project therefore contributes to the success of the larger campus landscape.

“All Auburn University property and facilities belong to the University as a whole. These assets represent a major investment by Auburn University and are critical to the accomplishment of its mission as a land grant university. As a result, it is essential that the planned utilization and development of Auburn University property and facilities be done in a strategic, judicious, and professional manner.”

While Auburn University has produced multiple campus master plans over the years, this Landscape Master Plan represents the University’s first in-depth effort to shape a cohesive, long-term vision for its landscape. The preparation and adoption of this plan establishes a specific vision and policy platform which elevates the campus landscape to a higher institutional priority level at the University. The Auburn campus landscape is dynamic and multifaceted and should be viewed as a complex system which includes both elements of the “ecological landscape” and elements of the “cultural landscape”. Going forward, it will be important for the campus community to view holistically all aspects of the campus landscape and to recognize and manage this landscape as an essential element of the campus’ critical infrastructure. This Landscape Master Plan (LMP) establishes a new vision for the campus landscape and provides a set of guidelines for the future development of that vision in an organized and consistent pattern. It is therefore critical that, going forward, all maintenance and all improvement projects – large and small – be consistent with the vision and guidance provided in the Landscape Master Plan.

As a University project moves into the design phases, the LMP is intended for use by design professionals, including Facilities Management project leads, Landscape Services staff, and consultant architects, engineers and landscape architects. The LMP will also be utilized by the Design Review Committee and the University Architect, in their design review of campus projects. This University review will help ensure that each project is consistent with the LMP Vision and that together all projects make a positive contribution to the creation of a cohesive campus landscape.

Beyond the Campus and Capital Projects Planning Policy (D-2), there are a number of guiding policies, foundational plans and reports which form the basis of, and helped guide the development of, the LMP. These include a strategic alignment with both the 2013-2018 Auburn University Strategic Plan and with the Comprehensive Campus Master Plan Update 2013. 2013-2018 University Strategic Plan: Auburn University’s most recent strategic planning process identifies five strategic priorities which are supported by a number of measurable goals and commitments. This plan is designed to guide Auburn University through this five year period and to provide a framework for excellence in all aspects of the institution’s mission. The five broad Strategic Priorities are: 1. Enhance Student Success and Diversify Enrollment 2. Support Faculty Excellence and Strengthen Auburn’s Reputation 3. Enhance Research, Scholarship and Creative Work 4. Enhance Public Engagement 5. Focus Resources on Institutional Mission and Priorities University Vision and Mission Statement: The development of the 2013-2018 Strategic Plan reaffirms the core values articulated in Auburn’s official statement of vision and mission, first approved by the Board of Trustees in 1997 and reaffirmed in 2013. Vision - Auburn University will emerge as one of the nation’s preeminent comprehensive land-grant universities in the 21st century. Mission - Auburn University’s mission is defined by its land-grant traditions of service and access. The University will serve the citizens of the State through its instructional, research and outreach programs and prepare Alabamians to respond successfully to the challenges of a global economy.

Figure 1-1. Large paving area broken up by tree planting 3

Figure 1-2. Fountain plaza feature offers interest along the Concourse

Auburn University Landscape Master Plan, Comprehensive Campus Master Plan Update 2014

Figure 1-3. Existing Illustrative Plan from the Comprehensive Campus Master Plan Update 2013

Planning Background

2013 Comprehensive Campus Master Plan Update: The Comprehensive Campus Master Plan (the Master Plan) is the result of a three-year long planning process designed to engage the campus administration, faculty, staff, and students in an open and participatory planning process. The Master Plan is comprised of a series of Planning Elements that include: Space Needs, Academic Buildings, Land Use, Campus Landscape, Health Science Sector, Student Housing, Campus Quality of Life, Transportation, Campus Security, Athletics, Sustainability, and Research. The Master Plan Update sets out recommendations for aligning improvements to the campus environment with the mission, vision, values and strategic priorities of the University. The Master Plan establishes a framework for the LMP. The landscape framework prescribes the overall organizational pattern of landscape types for the campus landscape. The Master Plan states: “The Landscape Master Plan recommendations provide guidelines for landscape treatments of the campus landscape types and conceptual design guidance for selected landscape improvement areas.” The LMP is therefore a sub-plan component of the Master Plan and becomes the guiding policy for the future development of the Auburn University campus landscape. The LMP reinforces the goals established in the Master Plan, defines a Twenty-first Century Vision for the campus landscape and establishes a set of tools to help guide the implementation of the vision. In addition to the Strategic Plan and the Master Plan there are a number of related policy statements, planning documents and studies which have guided the development of the Landscape Master Plan. These include: 1. Facilities Management Policy on Final Project Design Approval on Building Exteriors 2. Tree Preservation Policy, Board of Trustees Policy (D-6) 3. Auburn University Sustainability Policy 4. Auburn University Climate Action Plan, 11.19.2010 5. Campus Tree Survey, 2011 6. Auburn University Sign and Wayfinding Program Manual, 2009 7. Auburn University Post Construction Stormwater Management Manual, 2013 8. External Use Land Units Bio-Assessment, 2013 9. External Use Land Units Wetland Assessment, 2013 10. Parkerson Mill Creek Watershed Plan 11. Image and Character of Auburn University, 2001

PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS The Vision for the Auburn University LMP is founded in the following key planning assumptions: That the Landscape Master Plan will be wholly supportive of the Auburn University Mission & Vision and their emphasis on the University’s unique land grant heritage. That the Landscape Master Plan is a clearly defined requirement of the 2013 Comprehensive Campus Master Plan (Master Plan). That the Landscape Master Plan shall reinforce and be an integrated component of the Master Plan. That the Master Plan defines a clear set of nine goals that which the LMP must equally support and strive to achieve. These goals include: mission success, student success, campus and community life, sense of place, land use, sustainability, mobility, infrastructure and communication. That the Campus will continue to grow and expand – both with more density in the core and with new facilities outside the core. The LMP acknowledges this and incorporates the concepts of land use, campus landscape, quality of life, mobility security, and sustainability defined in the Master Plan.

Figure 1-4. Busy Pedestrian corridors

That the Landscape Master Plan vision also builds on a concept – defined in the Master Plan - of reinforcing, protecting, preserving and enhancing the Parkerson Mill Creek corridor as both a central, natural, hydrological ecological system and as a major potential central green spine for the campus. That the Campus, conceptually, is comprised of two interwoven landscapes: the ecological landscape, governed by biophysical processes; and, the cultural landscape, governed by the social activities and experience of Auburn’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other supporters. The Landscape Master Plan seeks to further enhance the performance and value of these landscapes through a holistic approach designed to foster the development of an integrated, thriving open space system.

CAMPUS LANDSCAPE POLICY The LMP serves as the guiding policy for the future development of the campus landscape. Building upon the campus-wide goals and strategies and upon the landscape framework developed in the Master Plan, the LMP outlines a broad general vision for the future development of the campus landscape and provides guidelines and standards for its future development. Consistent with the Facilities Management Policy on Final Project Design Approval on Building Exteriors, Facilities Management is charged with the implementation of this plan and with the authority to enforce and apply it, without exception, to each and every improvement project undertaken on the campus – building, infrastructure, and landscape.

Figure 1-5. Tiger Transit regional hub

The Landscape Master Plan should be viewed as a living document and updated as necessary and appropriate on a regular basis.

Figure 1-6. View across the campus green to Jordan-Hare Stadium 5

Auburn University Landscape Master Plan, Comprehensive Campus Master Plan Update 2014

LMP GOVERNANCE The governance structure for the LMP will be the same as the Comprehensive Campus Master Plan given that the LMP is an implementation component sub-plan of the Master Plan. The Governance Structure ensures that the plan is informed by campus leadership and the broader community with the goal of ensuring that it reflects the key goals, objectives and priorities of the University. (See pages 15 and 16 of the Master Plan.) In order to provide technical expertise, guidance and input to the Landscape Master Plan, an additional ad hoc committee will be established as part of the University Master Plan Committee. The Master Plan Committee, with the additional ad hoc landscape steering committee members, will advise the Master Planning Team on the development of the LMP and make a recommendation on approval. The Master Planning Team will recommend approval to the Executive Facilities Committee, who will recommend approval to the University President, who will advance the LMP to the Board of Trustees for formal approval.

paving, walkways, lighting, signage, planting, etc.) must be included as an integral part of all projects that affect exterior facilities on the Auburn University campus. Landscape improvements must be included in the initial budgeting, scoping and design of a project and be included in the base bid of all projects. Standard tree protection, hardscape and softscape cannot be bid as alternates and/or excluded from projects based on project budget. For example: a. Brick paving on concourses cannot be bid as an alternate and excluded from the project due to budget constraints; b. All projects, interior and/or exterior, must provide proper tree protection on construction access routes and laydown areas. 2.

Project Review – Non-Board of Trustee Projects

b. Master Plan Committee – formulates/adopts institutional plans and guidelines and keeps them current. The Master Plan Committee reviews development of all land holdings of Auburn University and makes recommendations regarding facilities, planning, transportation planning, land planning, infrastructure and site development activities. The Committee oversees the continuing administration, maintenance, implementation, change and update of all Auburn University master plans and supporting documents, including design guidelines, The Image and Character of Auburn University and the Auburn University Comprehensive Campus Master Plan. (see Master Plan Committee charter: http://www.auburn.edu/administration/president/univcomm/masterplan.html) c. Tree Preservation Committee – reviews and approves recommendations for removal of campus trees. (see Tree Preservation Committee charter: http://www.auburn. edu/administration/trustees/policies/D-6_Tree_Preservation_Policy.pdf)

In terms of the LMP update process, Auburn University will continue the above governance structure for future LMP updates, with the Master Plan Committee and the landscape ad hoc members advising the Master Planning Team. The LMP is structured so Auburn can update the document on a regular basis as needed.

For projects that do not require Board of Trustees approval, the University design project lead shall submit the project to the University Architect for review, typically at schematic, design development, and final construction documents phases. The University Architect shall coordinate committee design review as needed and make the final approval for a project’s compliance with the Landscape Master Plan and the image and character of Auburn University.

d. Stormwater Management Committee – reviews and approves project’s compliance with the regulations in the Post Construction Stormwater Manual to provide the campus flood protection, improve water quality, and reduce the stormwater flow rates to downstream waters. (see Stormwater Management Committee charter: http:// www.auburn.edu/administration/facilities/contractor-documents/design-standards/ Design%20Standards.pdf)”

LMP PROJECT APPROVAL PROCESS

PROJECT SCOPING STANDARD

All individual, exterior improvement projects – regardless of size or nature – that affect Auburn University exterior facilities must comply with the Landscape Master Plan as a component sub-plan of the Comprehensive Campus Master Plan. The primary, day-to-day stewards of the campus landscape shall be Facilities Management. Within Facilities Management, the University Architect shall oversee the day-to-day operations and implementation of the Landscape Master Plan. The University Architect, in consultation with University committees as needed, has final architectural and landscape architectural design approval on all projects involving modification to any exterior facility, including compliance with the requirements established in the Landscape Master Plan and the image and character of Auburn University (See Auburn University Facilities Management Policy on Final Project Design Approval on Exterior Facilities).This review and oversight by the University Architect shall also apply to operations and maintenance activities involving land disturbance or tree removal activities. The following steps outline the process for review and approval of all maintenance and improvement projects on campus, exterior to buildings, which involve site improvements, land disturbance and/or changes of any kind to the existing campus grounds. 1. Project Scoping– Campus landscape improvements consistent with the requirements, standards and guidelines of this document (tree protection, grading, drainage,

Planning Background

Project Review – Board of Trustee Projects

All new construction, renovation, or adaptation projects on Auburn University property, regardless of funding source with a total project cost of over $1,000,000 require Auburn University Board of Trustee approval (BOT Policy, D-3 Capital Project Approval Policy). The University Architect shall coordinate project review, typically at schematic, design development, and final construction documents phases, and organize committee design review as needed. The University Architect shall recommend all Board of Trustees projects as compliant with the Landscape Master Plan and the image and character of Auburn University to the Associate Vice President of Facilities Management. The Associate Vice President of Facilities Management recommends approval of Board of Trustees projects to the University President. The University President advances projects to the Board of Trustees for final review and approval. 4.

Campus landscape improvements consistent with the requirements, standards and guidelines of this document (grading, drainage, paving, walkways, lighting, signage, planting, etc.) must be included as an integral part of all projects that affect exterior facilities on the Auburn University campus. Landscape improvements must be included in the initial budgeting, scoping and design of a project and be included in the base bid of all projects. Standard hardscape and softscape cannot be bid as alternates and/ or excluded from projects based on project budget. For example, brick paving on the Thach Concourse was bid as an alternate and excluded from the project due to budget constraints; this deletion significantly decreased the quality of the project.

Project Review – Committees

Depending on the type of project, the University Architect will rely on multiple University committees to provide design review and input as to a project’s compliance with the LMP and the image and character of Auburn University including: a. Design Review Committee – ensures that physical facility designs: support the University mission and priorities, enhance and support the overall image desired for the University, and emphasize wise use of resources. The Design Review Committee reviews project designs and make recommendations regarding acceptable compliance with stated goals and programs of the user/client, design guidelines, the image and character of Auburn University and the Auburn University comprehensive campus master plan. (see Design Review Committee charter: http://www.auburn.edu/administration/president/ univcomm/designreview.html)

GLOSSARY OF LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN TERMS Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex (ACLC) – the building(s) proposed in the Master Plan Update to replace classroom space displaced from the Allison, Haley and Parker demolitions. Bike Lane – a striped lane on the right side of a street designated for bicycles and with a minimum width of five feet. Bike Path – a paved path, separate from roadways and from pedestrian paths or sidewalks, designated for bicycles. BMP – Best Management Practices Campus Core – That portion of the Auburn University campus generally bordered by College Street to the east, Samford Avenue to the south, Donahue Drive to the west, and Magnolia Avenue to the north Charrette – a collaborative work session in which a group of people work together to develop a solution to a design or planning problem. Civic Spaces – an area by virtue of size, location, history or association with buildings possess campus-wide significance. Climate Action Plan (CAP) – The Office of Sustainability has prepared a climate action plan which addresses issues such as energy reduction, green purchasing, transportation, and waste reduction. This plan is designed to address the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which Auburn President Jay Gogue signed in fall 2008. Comprehensive Campus Master Plan (abbreviated to Master Plan - MP) – The physical plan and a comprehensive set of policy directives that together provide long-range strategies for the growth and transformation of the Auburn University main campus. The campus master plan coordinates decisions relative to buildings, infrastructure, open spaces, landscape, circulation, transit, site ecology, and stormwater management in support of the academic research and outreach missions of the University. Critical Root Zone (CRZ) – Determined by measuring the DBH of the tree then multiplying DBH by 1.5 Feet. The zone is teh minimum area of a tree’s root system to be protected and undisturbed during construction in order for said tree to survive and thrive. Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) – the measurement of a tree’s diameter at 4.5’ off the ground. Front Yards – the landscape areas between the edges of vehicular streets and the face of buildings along campus and public streets. FM – Facilities Management, the Auburn University administrative unit responsible for the coordination of construction, maintenance, and infrastructure of the campus. Game-Day – the term used at Auburn to refer to the days when football games occur on the campus.

Heat Island – a developed area with consistently higher temperatures than surrounding landscape or open areas due to a greater retention of heat by buildings, concrete, and asphalt. Heritage Tree – Large trees that significantly influence the quality and character of the campus. Heritage Tree Groves have also been designated on campus.

Stormwater Management – anything associated with the planning, maintenance, and regulation of facilities which collect, store, or convey stormwater.

Hydrology – the study of the movement, distribution and quality of water.

Sustainability – at Auburn university, sustainability is defined as meeting human needs in a fair, just and equitable way that enables future generations to meet their own needs, while protecting and maintaining healthy ecosystems in perpetuity.

Iconic Landscapes – the most identifiable landscapes of Auburn University to both the campus community and visitors

Traffic Calming – a physical design strategy intended to encourage motorists to drive slower in order to allow for safer pedestrian and bicycle circulation.

Image and Character of Auburn University (2001) – a Board of Trustees commissioned study that examined the defining qualities of the Auburn campus including architecture and landscape features.

Urban Design – the process of designing groups of buildings, streets and public spaces, whole neighborhoods and districts, and entire cities, to make areas functional, attractive, and sustainable.

Land Use – land use refers to the human use of land. Land use involves the management and modification of the natural environment or wilderness into the built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements.

Urban Ecology – the relation between the more densely developed portion of the main campus and its users.

Landscape Master Plan (LMP) – a plan focusing on landscape design and treatment strategies for the various types of open space, landscape and natural environments found on the Auburn campus. Managed Natural Areas – areas that include several types of naturally occurring regional plant communities, modified to differing degrees by management activities.

Values Statement – the beliefs that are shared among the stakeholders of the University. Values drive Auburn’s culture and priorities and provide a framework in which decisions are made. Vision Statement – the statement expressing the long term goals of Auburn University. It is intended to be emotive and is a source of inspiration. Watershed – the region or area draining into a river system, or other body of water.

Mission Statement – a statement that defines the fundamental purpose of Auburn, succinctly describing why it exists and what it does to achieve its vision. Operations and Maintenance (O&M) – various activities , usually performed by University personnel involving a wide range of routine facilities maintenance activities. Office of the University Architect (OUA) – a division of Facilities Management. Passive Recreation – activities that are informal in nature and that take place in the public open spaces of the campus. Pedestrianization – the conversion of a street into a mall or pedestrian walkway. Pedestrian Concourse – major pedestrian corridors, often converted vehicular streets, with significant utilities and service requirements. Quadrangles (or Quads) – open landscape areas defined by surrounding buildings, walks, lawns, trees and shrubs. Rainwater Garden – planted depression or a hole that allows rainwater runoff from impervious surface areas, like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas, the opportunity to be absorbed. Sense of Place – the scale, quality, and character associated with the natural features, landscape, architecture, circulation systems and infrastructure of the campus environment that, in combination, contribute to the overall experience and ambiance.

Gateway – a ceremonial entrance.

Auburn University Landscape Master Plan, Comprehensive Campus Master Plan Update 2014

Figure 1-7. Near-term Illustrative Plan from the Comprehensive Campus Master Plan Update 2013

Planning Background

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Auburn University Landscape Master Plan, Comprehensive Campus Master Plan Update 2014