Master Planning Campus Amenties - Including Fencing - For Visual Character and Identity

The University of South Alabama in Mobile includes information on fencing in its Campus Master Plan, available online. Concerning fencing and campus boundaries, the university’s master plan states: “The property lines serve as the official boundary for every campus. Roads, sidewalks, vegetation and other attributes define the physical boundaries. Providing consistent amenities along these ‘front’ boundaries is recommended for campus-wide identification. These amenities could include hedges, fencing and signage.

Providing an attractive fence along some of the side yards that are adjacent to roads may be impractical from a monetary standpoint. In this case, it is recommended that a four (4) foot tall black chain link fence with a hedge should run along the property line. Using fences and hedges not only helps define the campus in an aesthetically pleasing manner, but also helps in directing pedestrian access to desired locations. Rows of identical trees that are proposed on the Campus Master Plan map can also further reinforce the university’s boundaries.

Another method of creating identification as well as a sense of arrival is the establishment of portals at the main entries of the campus.

It is recommended to create larger monumental portals at several of the primary entrances. Smaller, less prominent portals can be placed at secondary entrances. These portals should be of brick and cut stone, which can stand up to the test of time physically and aesthetically and also are materials present in much of existing campus architecture. Signage, hardscaping and landscaping should be part of the design for these portals. The portals also should engage the proposed fencing along the campus boundaries. This can be accomplished by providing brick and cut stone columns periodically along the fence.”

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Dallas ISD Debuts New Peabody Elementary School

    The Dallas Independent School District in Dallas, Texas, recently announced the completion of the new facility for George Peabody Elementary School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects and REEDER Construction on the 70,807-square-foot replacement campus, which has the capacity for 550 students.

  • Springfield Breaks Ground on $53.7M Pipkin Middle School Rebuild

    Construction is underway on a new, state-of-the-art Pipkin Middle School in Springfield, Mo., a major step in Springfield Public Schools’ (SPS) long-term facility improvement plan, according to local news. The $53.7-million project officially broke ground in early June, following years of planning and community input aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure and addressing student capacity concerns.

  • Howard Community College President Joins National Research Council

    Howard Community College President Daria J. Willis was recently appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Research and Community College Trends and Issues, according to a news release.

  • Elevating Campus Maintenance: How Power Wash Drones are Transforming Educational Facilities

    As today’s campuses grow larger and more architecturally complex, keeping exteriors clean, safe, and inviting has never been tougher. Facilities leaders are under constant pressure to stretch budgets, meet safety standards, and support sustainability goals—all while tackling the stubborn challenge of exterior cleaning.

Digital Edition