Stetson Creates Teaching
Landscape
Stetson
University starts major
landscaping, classroom and
lighting upgrades
DeLand – Stetson
University is investing $6.5
million to renew the
landscaping and walkways in
its campus core, upgrade
classrooms and add
energy-saving lighting as
the university embarks on a
new Campus Master Plan
process.
The improvements will
support a new university
goal to increase
undergraduate enrollment.
The Stetson Board of
Trustees authorized the
project earlier this year
and work began last week,
causing minor disruptions in
pedestrian flow for
students, employees and
campus visitors. The major
landscaping/walkway project
will be completed by
mid-August, while the
classroom and lighting
upgrades will continue into
the academic year. A
project website
is at
www.stetson.edu/capitalprojects.
“This is a freshening up of
a wonderful campus setting –
something that is needed at
all institutions from time
to time,” said George Herbst,
vice president for finance
at Stetson. “It’s an
investment in ourselves…in a
very important part of the
history of education in
Florida.”
The sprucing-up comes at the
start of a new Campus Master
Plan to better serve
students and optimize use of
facilities and grounds at
the 175-acre DeLand campus.
Additional work will be done
in future phases. The Boston
campus planning firm of
Dober Lidsky Mathey is
creating the new Campus
Master Plan.
The changes support a new
university goal to increase
undergraduate enrollment to
2,700 by fall 2014 and to
3,000 undergrads by fall
2016. Undergraduate
enrollment at the DeLand
campus in fall 2009 was
approximately 2,100.
Student
services are being
centralized for convenience.
In addition to better
serving current students,
all of the improvements are
being designed to appeal to
the hundreds of prospective
students who consider
Stetson each year.
“We need to increase our
curb appeal,” Herbst said.
“We want to entice people to
explore the richness and
depth of our academic
programs. Our campus should
reflect the quality of the
education at Stetson.”
The project includes:
Core Campus Landscape
Initiative –
A $3.5 million major
landscape renovation starts
along Michigan Avenue,
between the music buildings
and the Lynn Business
Center, and goes through the
core campus area to Griffith
Hall, the admissions
building north of the
Carlton Union Building. The
plan is being designed by
Carol R. Johnson Associates,
Boston, and follows
Stetson’s native-Florida
landscaping philosophy.
Older trees and shrubs are
being replaced, and palms
and new turf added in the
Quad (also called the Palm
Court). Walkways are being
widened using brick pavers
to complement the
architecture of Elizabeth
Hall. Crushed stone is being
added to the dirt parking
area north of Chaudoin Hall,
and the parking area next to
Presser and McMahan halls is
being reconfigured.
Classroom Enhancements –
The project includes a
two-year, $1.5 million
upgrade to more than 30
classrooms in Elizabeth,
Flagler and Sampson halls.
Work includes technology
improvements and new
ceilings, flooring and
paint.
Energy Management –
Most of Stetson’s older
administrative and
residential buildings are
being retrofit with
energy-efficient lighting.
This $1.5 initiative is
expected to reduce the
university’s carbon
footprint by 25 to 30
percent and result in
substantial energy
cost-savings. The project
will start this summer with
Edmunds Center, the Carlton
Union Building and
Elizabeth, Flagler, Emily
and Chaudoin halls and take
18 to 24 months to complete.
Pick up a Green
Volusia reusable tote while
supplies last.
