Great landscape planning ties directly back to guidance contained in each campus master plan and is integral to every project delivery team, no matter the size or scope. From the largest multimillion dollar capital plan to the temporary location of a dumpster for a small construction renovation, the placement is evaluated carefully by our project team leadership.
Subtle yet discernable differences in geography, climate, elevation, soils, proximity to rivers and creeks, plants and animals provide a wide palette of inspiring material from which to craft a sense of place within the larger University of Nebraska ecosystem. This sense of place is also measured by a wide range of diverse rural to urban density on our campuses—at NCTA, UNK, UNL, UNO, UNMC and throughout the IANR network statewide.
Our landscapes include the Western High Plains giving way to the Sandhills and Dissected Plains region in Curtis, dotted with majestic ponderosas. Move across the Central Platte Valley and you’ll experience an outstretched linear campus, bisected by a historic canal, in Kearney. Stroll the planned, organic nature of an urban forest meshed into a gridded city plan—bordered by rail transport and low-lying Salt and Antelope Creeks in Lincoln—while experience the quadrangular nature of East Campus and the nexus of the State Arboretum. Make your way back across the Platte River to Omaha and the Dodge campus, on a hill overlooking Scott Campus in the Little Papillion Creek Valley with its embedded, urban Aksarben Village across Elmwood Park and Creek. All this is just a few blocks east from the soaring heights, beauty and urban density of UNMC, on the edge of Saddle Creek Valley. Each of these places matter dearly to every students, faculty, staff, visitors and alumni.
We’ve marked and located beautiful-sounding carillons, visually distinct historic columns, strolling gardens, reflecting ponds, paths and trails, boulevards, sidewalks, signposts and entrances, wayfinding, art and fountains. And we will continue placemaking that thrives on each of our University of Nebraska campuses.