Campus Construction

[HoustonCajun]

I have noticed that, over time, plants that died around the new residence halls has not been replaced. The dead plants were just removed. All of the landscaping along McKinley placed around the Baker and Huger halls has been removed. It's just grass and they mow it. I haven't checked in the courtyards lately but I drive by on McKinley often. Many of the plants along University against Corona and Bonin have also been removed after they died. I suspect they will be mowing that in the next couple of years. We shall see what happens with the landscaping around the student union. I figured that would happen. They have the money to build but not maintain. If you walked into the Dr. Maggards office and were writing a check for one million dollars I doubt much if any would go to landscaping. I suspect they have bigger priorities than landscaping at the complex.

We are seeking millions of dollars in donations to athletics. We are also wanting to move up in conference. We will only get one chance to make a first impression with any new donors, with visiting conference commissioners or potential conference schools that we might play, and any visitors to our complex. We need to make the right impression when they visit our athletic complex. Relating this to Real Estate terms, we have Class A interiors to our facilities (which nobody sees), but Class B exteriors and grounds, and in some buildings Class C. A lot will change when something is done with the Cox Building, but who knows when that till occur. UL is looking at 2 options with that building (1) tear it down and rebuild elsewhere, or (2) renovate and put a 2nd story on it. I would argue that UL can't afford to not landscape and make the complex as attractive as possible. There are a couple of things UL can do. (1) Find a landscaping company as a major sponsor of athletics who will handle the landscaping for us and (2) get creative, for example, by utilizing the agronomy department to provide each year a senior class project to work on the athletic campus landscaping in conjunction with the landscaping sponsor.

UL cannot afford to overlook the details that will make for a great athletic campus to match our now beautiful academic campus that Dr. S has done a remarkable job with. We are attracting more valedictorians than ever to UL. When students and their parents visit, they want to see a beautiful, vibrant campus. If you want to attract wealth (economic and academic), look wealthy. Quit operating like we are USL. We are the University of Louisiana. Invest in it. Act like it. Look like it.

[LaCajunsFan]

Interesting, realated recent article in the Verm.

https://www.thevermilion.com/news/ne...1c49a63a5.html

[RaginFan2]

We are seeking millions of dollars in donations to athletics. We are also wanting to move up in conference. We will only get one chance to make a first impression with any new donors, with visiting conference commissioners or potential conference schools that we might play, and any visitors to our complex. We need to make the right impression when they visit our athletic complex. Relating this to Real Estate terms, we have Class A interiors to our facilities (which nobody sees), but Class B exteriors and grounds, and in some buildings Class C. A lot will change when something is done with the Cox Building, but who knows when that till occur. UL is looking at 2 options with that building (1) tear it down and rebuild elsewhere, or (2) renovate and put a 2nd story on it. I would argue that UL can't afford to not landscape and make the complex as attractive as possible. There are a couple of things UL can do. (1) Find a landscaping company as a major sponsor of athletics who will handle the landscaping for us and (2) get creative, for example, by utilizing the agronomy department to provide each year a senior class project to work on the athletic campus landscaping in conjunction with the landscaping sponsor.

UL cannot afford to overlook the details that will make for a great athletic campus to match our now beautiful academic campus that Dr. S has done a remarkable job with. We are attracting more valedictorians than ever to UL. When students and their parents visit, they want to see a beautiful, vibrant campus. If you want to attract wealth (economic and academic), look wealthy. Quit operating like we are USL. We are the University of Louisiana. Invest in it. Act like it. Look like it.

I totally agree with you on the need to put the finishing touches to complete the total look of a 1st class university. This is a must-do.

[HelmutVII]

Interesting, realated recent article in the Verm.

https://www.thevermilion.com/news/ne...1c49a63a5.html

I think they will try to do more of this. They need to cut costs on landscape up keep and anything that will let them do nothing will be a help. It will be interesting to see how this works long term. I suspect these areas might be trash magnets.

[LaCajunsFan]

Green space is pretty much complete, and I think it turned out to be a great addition to the campus:

[LaCajunsFan]

This is a view from Buchanan taken right before the construction was completed, and that was posted on the UL Housing FB page.

[SlickRick]

Thanks for the pics. Been meaning to drive by for a first hand look. Is there a bioswale in the green space?

[Boomer]

Thanks for the pics. Been meaning to drive by for a first hand look. Is there a bioswale in the green space?

Talked to T-Joe and I along with others offered congrats on the campus look....he said it was. Getting there but more to do......just think how bad it was!!!

[LaCajunsFan]

Thanks for the pics. Been meaning to drive by for a first hand look. Is there a bioswale in the green space?

Well, not sure but I think so: in the space between the pine trees and Hebrard (where Corona Hall......or was that one Olivier????......used to be) is now a valley-like depression for drainage. Either that, or it left a hole when hell swallowed up the old 'eye-sore' buildings. ;-)

[HoustonCajun]

This is a view from Buchanan taken right before the construction was completed, and that was posted on the UL Housing FB page.

Thanks for the pictures. The campus is really looking great. Need to do the same thing at the athletic campus that is sorely in need of a beautification project.

[LaCajunsFan]

Thanks for the pictures. The campus is really looking great. Need to do the same thing at the athletic campus that is sorely in need of a beautification project.

No problem. And here's one more: a picture of what the corner of Hebrard and Boucher used to look like, when the 'new' student union was just completed in 1957 to replace the 'old' one, Bittle Hall.

Also note that the street lights in the vintage photo are basically the same ones that have now replaced the modern ones that were put in during the 1960's.

[CajunNation]

We need to pass some sort of proclamation.

There shall be no pine trees anywhere on campus.