|
Contents -Y2K FAQs, Reminders -Gator Bowl -Y2K Checklists -Co-op Program -Campus Master Plan -Printing and Copying Services -Training and Development
Campus Events
Classifieds
Publication is weekly throughout the academic year.
All Whistle submissions
All phone numbers listed in
Cost/$350 ..... Copies/4,500
Georgia Tech is a unit of the
|
Master Plan progress affects campus treesTwo major campus construction projects are expected to begin early next year—the North Campus Parking Deck and the Environmental Sciences and Technology Building. In addition, a major “streetscape” project also is anticipated on Techwood Drive between North Avenue and Bobby Dodd Way. As part of these projects, a number of trees will be cleared, relocated or replaced. The multistory, 850-space parking deck will be located at the southwest corner of Atlantic Drive and Peachtree Place and will take approximately 12 months to construct. The Environmental Sciences and Technology Building, located within the block bordered by Plum Street, Cherry Street, Eighth Street and Ferst Drive, will take roughly 22 months to complete. Because of the location of both these projects, a number of trees will need to be cleared. With the sustainability goals of the Campus Master Plan in mind, the administration assessed the condition of the trees and proposed to minimize the loss by relocating some healthy existing trees and planting new trees. Ultimately, more trees will be planted than removed, supporting the overarching master plan goal of sustainable development. The following is an outline of the plan to minimize the loss of trees: North Campus Parking Deck, Environmental Sciences and Technology Building The NCPD site is a two-acre parcel located immediately north of the Neely Nuclear Reactor Office Building. This facility will provide much needed parking in this sector of campus. More than half the trees scheduled for removal are in poor-to-fair condition, several are inferior species, some are severely weakened by disease and likely to fall in wind and ice storms, and many others are growing too close together for a full crown to develop. A plan has been developed for transplanting and replacing a number of trees. This month at least five of the choicest trees will be transplanted from the NCPD site to west campus housing courtyards. When construction is finished, the deck will be landscaped with roughly 30 shade trees. Furthermore, the widening of State Street—which is necessary, in part, to accommodate the increased traffic volume from the deck—will be landscaped with approximately 100 shade trees and ornamental trees. On the Environmental Sciences and Technology Building (EST) site, three “tree save” areas are designated in which eight mature trees will be preserved. A large number of shrubs and smaller trees have already been salvaged by Georgia Tech Landscape Services. In addition, the landscape plan for the EST site calls for 78 new trees to be planted. The EST project also includes a rainwater runoff demonstration project. This plan includes capturing rainwater and reusing it to irrigate the site’s landscape. Techwood Drive Streetscape The trees on the east side of Techwood Drive from North Avenue to Bobby Dodd Way are Bradford pears. These pear trees have become favorite roosting places for migrating starlings. As a result, the amount of bird guano has created unsanitary conditions on the pedestrian walks and benches beneath the tree canopy. Georgia Power has pruned half of each tree’s crown to prevent conflict with their overhead utility lines. These 20 trees will be removed and replaced with at least twice the number of crape myrtles. Future Landscape Plans In addition to the projects mentioned above, a Landscape Master Plan for the northwest sector of the academic core is in the works—the area west of State Street to Ferst Drive. More than 100 new trees will be planted in this pedestrian open space. In addition, Georgia Tech is planning to convert portions of Cherry Street, Bobby Dodd Way and Atlantic Drive to pedestrian spines, the conversion of which will include planting of new trees.
For more information, contact Nancy Tinker, director, Capital Planning and Space
Management, at 894-4799 or nancy.tinker@spaceplan.gatech.edu.
Approved by the Office of External Affairs on 09/24/97
| ||