University commits to net gain of trees after building boom

University commits to net gain of trees after building boom

BY JESSICA JOHNS POOL
Rice News Staff

As Rice University begins its two-year infrastructure expansion, construction officials have committed publicly to preserving a campus icon — the trees.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FE&P

FE&P had this tree moved to another section of campus to accommodate the expansion of the North Annex Lot.

“By the time we complete the current construction phase, Rice will have more trees than before we started,” said Barbara White Bryson, associate vice president for facilities, engineering and planning. “One of the distinguishing features of the Rice campus is the presence of over 4,000 trees of various species, many planted nearly 100 years ago. It is important to us to preserve as much of this natural endowment as possible.”

This commitment requires a combination of positioning buildings to preserve and protect as many existing trees as possible, moving some trees, and planting new ones to replace those it will be impossible to save.

The first tree move took place April 28 near the North Annex parking lot. Three trees were moved to an area near the lacrosse field to make room for the parking lot to expand. The trees, two live oaks 14 to 16 inches in diameter, and one elm 8 inches in diameter, will be supplemented with 12 new trees. The new trees are likely to be 100-gallon live oaks and red oaks, said Bob Nguyen, project manager, FE&P.

The process of saving existing trees, analyzing which trees can be moved and replacing felled trees is being repeated for upcoming construction projects, including:     

• The Pavilion by Fondren Library

 

• McMurtry College and New College #11

 

• South Plant

 

• Recreation Center

The university’s sustainability planner, Richard Johnson, grounds superintendent and arborist, Ron Smith, and university architect, David Rodd, are carefully collaborating with project managers on this effort. Each potentially impacted tree is assessed by an urban forester, Stephen Anderson. The teams also consult with members of the Lynn Lowery Arboretum Committee, which includes faculty from Rice’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, to determine opportunities to plant Texas native trees in addition to the traditional live oaks. While the live oaks symbolize Rice to many, adding other types of trees would increase biodiversity in the tree canopy on campus.

Learn more about construction on campus.