Universities are constantly growing to meet the needs of growing enrollment and a changing society. NC State sits in the heart of Raleigh, NC, a city consistently voted among the best places to live and do business. However, we must balance the use of space with our educational mission and the sustainability. This balance includes land use (agriculture, industrial, open space, etc), conservation and protection of natural areas, restoration and repairing damaged natural areas, stormwater runoff , managing the grounds and landscape and space utilization. To ensure we are adhering to our mission, space allocations are approved by the University Space Committee.
The master planning process NC State examines the institution’s impact on the surrounding community and attempts to minimize any detrimental effects. Several of the guiding principles in the Physical Master Plan and the Centennial Campus Master Plan illustrate our commitment including sustainability, pedestrian-oriented campus, mixed-use activities and open space to encourage communication, design harmony with existing structures and natural systems and efficient, responsible development.
Students are also using campus as a living classroom for applying knowledge about land use. Through the Design/Build program of the Department of Landscape Architecture, students create enduring landscape designs that enhance the campus environment.
