LANDSCAPE

Overview
The Pecos Campus has been designed as an oasis for learning internally focused around a system of courtyards and malls. The landscape reinforces this basic planning premise with shade trees along malls and uniquely planted courtyards.

The campus expansion through this master plan follows this basic organizational concept, while overlaying a finer grain of design ideas.

The landscape character is discussed as it relates to specific applications, moving from the perimeter outskirts to the central core.

• Campus Boundary (edge and loop road)
• Campus Entry
• Entry Features
• Athletic Fields
• Retention Basins
• Parking Lots
• Perimeter Gardens
• Main Campus Spine (north-south mall)
• Pedestrian (east-west mall)
• Courtyard (hortative gardens)
• Peace Garden

Campus Boundary and Edge
The edge of the campus holdings is buffeted by new or planned residential on all four sides, with an out-parcel at the southeast corner. The campus loop road and parking is at the campus perimeter, with solid walls at the backyards of the west and north residents. The boundary needs buffering reinforcement and integration with the surrounding community.

A new loop road provides the internal circulation to the campus and follows its developed perimeter. It will serve to disperse traffic from the entry points to the parking areas as well as facilitate movement between opposite ends of campus.

Recommended Improvements
A cohesive landscape program, with emphasis given to the campus character (as opposed to an individual landscape or hardscape element) is the overriding goal.

• To reinforce the nature of an academic setting, the western and northern edges (residential backyards) should be planted with tall, dense shrubs. These will soften the existing concrete block walls as well as discourage them from being used as graffiti billboards. It will provide additional buffer from the residents. Although plant materials will not provide noise attenuation, the visual separation will lessen the perceived impact.
• The loop road should be planted with tall, broad canopy trees. These will define the main circulation route, act as visual way-finding clues and provide shade to the roadway.
• The perimeter landscape shall be a desert palette, with Sonoran desert native trees, limited areas of groundcover and the use of natural stone mulch.

Campus Entries
Currently the main entry to the campus is from Pecos Road to the south. Two additional entries are available to "those-in-the-know" at both the western most edge and the eastern most edge of campus on this same road. The forthcoming opening of the San Tan Freeway to the south, along with an interchange at Gilbert Road, and the widening of Gilbert Road to six lanes, prompts the relocation of the main entrance to this location.

We recommend that there be four distinct means of entering the campus. The main entrance should be on Gilbert Road. The existing "main" entrance should become ceremonial/historical in nature and used primarily for visitors. The two others on Pecos Road need to be identified as secondary entrances.

The two major entries need to incorporate a well-lit marquee type of sign that displays both the MCCCD name and logo and the CGCC name and logo. In addition to the two logos, some suggestions as to what lies ahead should be included (e.g., Administration, visitor parking, etc.).

The two minor entries need to be identified as such and include similar information and lighting to that of the major entries.

Recommended Improvements

• Pecos Drive Entry: Redesign the existing southern, Pecos Entry to be the formal or guest entry to campus. This entry will maintain its formal character, but the landscape should be expanded to include a double row of palms (Washingtonia filifera) for their skyline character lining the drive. The existing African Sumac (Rhus lancea) should remain. Groundcover should be simplified in the entry drive median and the signage should be relocated to the sides, framing the entrance. This will also allow turn lane improvements to the central median.
  
• Gilbert Road Entry: The new eastern or Gilbert entry shall be designed with a similar landscape palette. The central median should be planted with low, evergreen groundcover, giving a sweeping entry into campus. This visual "plain" should extend through the central spine between the athletic fields. The entry should be framed with regularly placed strong, solid canopy trees, such as an oak or sumac, and again, interspersed with tall skyline palm trees. This will maintain a constant palette at the two entries. Signage identifying both CGCC and the MCCCD should be provided. This signage should be lit for night-time visibility.

Entry Features
Entry features define the campus gateways and establish a monumental image for the campus. Each of the entryways should have a dominant entry feature that speaks to the "academic oasis" nature of the campus. These features should be placed on axis with entries, either at the cul-de-sac or immediately behind, and be clearly visible from the streets. Each entry feature should be different, providing additional identity to that particular entry.

• Pecos Drive Entry: The existing cul-de-sac should be redesigned with a special feature as an entry statement to campus. Landscape shall remain low so that the visual access to the building entry is maintained. Flagpoles should reinforce the formal entry.
  
• Gilbert Road Entry: The new student entry at Gilbert Road should have an entry feature that relates to the campus as well as to the community. A prominent water feature appropriately sized could provide that identity and orientation for students.

Athletic Fields
This area forms the eastern edge of the academic core and creates an initial impression of the open agricultural fields that once dominated this part of the East Valley. While the turf and windbreaks (trees) are necessary ingredients in the creation of myriad athletic fields, these elements both enhance the main entrance to the campus from Gilbert Road and help create a meandering walk that connects the academic core to the main entrance.

To further enhance the connection between the academic core and the athletic fields, a large area of turf, trees and shrubs is planned along the entire eastern side of the Athletic Building. While this space has no specified use at present, it can be seen as the outdoor equivalent of indoor activities such as aerobics.

Recommended Improvements

• Windbreaks: This green field image can be reinforced with rows of "windbreak" planting. Windbreaks, tall skyline trees in a single row, can serve to separate the fields, provide shaded walks, block prevailing winds and provide a skyline identity. Appropriate species could include poplar, cottonwood, etc. Turf is appropriate for under story adjacent to the athletic fields, as it will provide additional areas for casual sports or spectators.

Retention Basins
Much of the perimeter of the campus will be used for storm water retention basins. While these areas will be primarily stone mulch, they should be planted with clusters of trees at the basin's perimeter and site edges to provide the lushness associated with the campus.

Parking Lots
Currently, the Pecos campus parking lots are open asphalt lots with no shade. Not only does this promote the "sea of parking" image to the campus perimeter, it is not environmentally friendly with the heat island effect of the parking lot.

The pedestrian spines extend into the parking lot with shade trees (Mesquite). These spines are extensions of the east-west malls that bisect the campus and provide shaded entries for the daily student, staff or faculty member.

Recommended Improvements

• Parking Lot Landscape: Canopy shade trees (minimum tree size 24" box) should be planted in islands (minimum size islands 4'-0" by 4'-0") at approximately 60 to 90 feet on center (one tree per 7 to 10 cars horizontally). This will contribute partial shading to parked cars and improve the visual character of the parking lots.
  
  Decreasing the tree spacing interval to 30 to 40 feet on center (one tree per three cars horizontal) would provide additional environmental mitigation, should funding be available. Spacing at 30 to 40 feet on center should provide 75% shade at maturity and eliminate much of the glare and heat gain in the parking lot. Species should be varied based upon the parking lot, providing an additional source of identity so students remember where they parked their car.
  
• Parking Lot Lighting: Current parking lot lighting is limited to a few tall stanchions scattered within the parking lots. With the addition of shade trees, parking lot lighting should be readdressed to ensure that spacing delivers approximately 2 foot-candles on the parking lot surface. Likewise, pedestrian lighting should be provided along the extension of all malls into the parking lots. Pedestrian level lighting is generally lower in scale (10 to 12 feet high) and provides brighter distribution along the sidewalk. Additionally, bollards can be used to demarcate the crossings of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Edge of Pedestrian Core
The outside perimeter of the campus buildings is currently landscaped in a desert palette, appropriate to the climate and natural conditions of the region. With the development of new buildings, this perimeter will be expanded and the landscape should be appropriately continued. These areas should be ones of little water use and promote conservation of resources. Trees that will provide shade to exposed facades or window banks should be encouraged.

Recommended Improvements

• Edge of Pedestrian Core: The perimeter landscape shall be a desert palette, with Sonoran desert native trees, limited areas of groundcover and the use of natural stone mulch. Aloes, agaves and other succulent material should provide a transition between the building wall and the flat expanse of parking. Plants with dramatic silhouettes, such as ocotillo and cactus, could be used to cast shadows on blank facades.

Main Campus Spine (Chandler-Gilbert Mall)
The main campus pedestrian spine, the north-south Chandler-Gilbert Mall, has been firmly established as the principal campus circulation way. Major buildings, such as the Library, Classroom Buildings and new Performing Arts and Student Center all face onto this mall. It is the widest of all spines and has dual paved pedestrian ways lined with canopy trees. It has been implemented incrementally, resulting in differing heights and spreads of trees.

Recommended Improvements

• Chandler-Gilbert Mall: The existing mall landscape, when mature, will provide adequate coverage for shade and definition. However, its dominance on the campus is not evident from a distance. Palm trees reinforcing the campus entry, could be interspersed in alternate plantings to give this skyline identity. As the campus builds future buildings along the mall, the mall's palette should be continued north of Higley Mall. In addition to the plant materials, shaded seating areas should be provided at appropriate intervals to accommodate social interaction, teaching and contemplation. Furthermore, the space bounded by Queen Creek Mall, the Library, San Tan Mall and the Performing Arts Center will be developed into an oasis to accommodate pedestrian activity.

Campus East-West Malls
Three east-west pedestrian malls connect through the campus to the parking lots and serve as the principal means of entrance and egress for students, faculty and staff. Buildings on both sides frame San Tan Mall, the southern-most mall. Queen Creek Mall, the central mall, is developing as the central cross-mall due to its location at the Library and Student Services Buildings. Higley Mall, the newest mall at the northern portion of campus, is faced with only one academic building at the present time. Each mall is currently planted with a central spine of mesquite trees. The mesquites show various stages of development, and in all cases are problems with litter and stability.

Recommended Improvements

• San Tan, Queen Creek & Higley Malls: The existing mall landscape has proven to be a maintenance issue. The mesquites, because of their litter, do not encourage people to sit under their canopies. A phased program of replacement should be introduced, with a different species planted on each mall, giving the malls individual identity. Recommended species include Shamal Ash; Arizona Sycamore, Evergreen Elm. Seating areas should be developed underneath the shaded canopies, providing additional opportunities for outdoor study and gathering.
  
• Crossroads: The intersection of Queen Creek Mall and Chandler-Gilbert Mall will become the new campus crossroads. Located at the intersection of the classroom building, library, student services and performing arts, this area will be the future central core of campus. Its design should reflect its prominence and provide locations to "see and be seen" as well as watch the passing traffic, meet with friends or give directions. Primarily paved, the open plaza forming the crossroads should be surrounded by canopy trees that serve as future eddies out of the main circulation flow.

Courtyards
The courtyards created by the many academic buildings are seen as extensions to the classrooms, becoming didactic gardens with diverse collections of plant materials. Here, students could quietly study, learn biology and botany from collections or meditate on medicinal plants or plants from literature - themes that could be developed to spark diversity amongst the courtyards.

Currently, the main Administration courtyard and the classroom building courtyard are developed in this manner. Other courtyards, such as the Enrollment Services (west side) courtyard or the B Building (east side) courtyard could be planted to include this concept.

Recommended Improvements

• New Courtyards: New courtyards should be developed and landscaped with each building program. Each should include a collection of plant materials that shows some reference to the academic uses in the building as well as increases the diversity of the campus landscape collection. Courtyards should also provide shaded places to sit and gather, quiet zones, especially near classroom windows and doors; as well as circulation space and services such as drinking fountains, trash receptacles and telephones.

Peace Garden
The Pecos Campus has considered developing a Peace Garden, dedicated to the exploration and contemplation of peace. A campus committee has been formed to plan the Peace Garden, and this Master Plan was tasked with addressing potential locations and characteristics.

The characteristics of a Peace Garden include those that provide a space for contemplation, serenity, comfort, options for pure silence or calm, quiet reflection, as well as harmonious tranquility.

Two approaches were developed based upon the physical attributes of the campus. One, a Peace Path could be developed, connecting the new campus entry off of Gilbert Road to the center of campus. Here, it would be a string of gardens along a pedestrian path and representing the journey to peace.

Secondly, a contemplative garden for quiet introspection was identified in existing campus courtyards, such as the west courtyard of the Classroom Building outside the Art/Photo studio. Here it would be treated more as a didactic courtyard garden.

Elements such as artwork, monuments, quotations and flags could literally symbolize the peace process. Roses, olives, laurel are all plants associated with peace while doves, reflecting pools of water, solstice alignments or mist evoke the references to peace.

SITE ELEMENTS

Landscape
The characteristics of the landscape have been described based upon their locations on campus, whether they are to provide shade or surface for recreation, whether they create gateways or silhouettes. Suggested plant species are shown for reference. In all cases, the minimum size tree should be a 24" box, staked or guyed appropriately for wind conditions. In higher impact areas, larger materials should be used. Groundcover or mulch should be applied to all exposed surfaces to decrease dust.

Hardscape
Pedestrian surfaces, or hardscape, on the campus should be durable and non-glaring. Due to the high level of traffic from pedestrians, service and emergency vehicles, durability is the key. Concrete, with a light broom finish in a light gray color will continue to integrate with the existing mall paving. Courtyards or special gathering areas such as at the Crossroads, could include stone paving bands, pre-cast pavers or other enhanced treatment to call it out as a unique pedestrian space. Stabilized decomposed granite should be used in very low traffic areas. All surfaces should be fully disabled accessible and meet all requirements of the current Americans' with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Security
Security in the landscape can be addressed with adequate lighting and minimizing sheltered areas where inappropriate activity can occur. Walls should be kept low (below 36 inches), be perforated, or raised with a gap below to prevent them from being hiding spaces. Shrubs should be pruned tight to the building as necessary. Tree canopies should not block lighting distribution and light fixtures should be laid out with specific consideration of parking lot landscape. Placement of closed circuit TV (CCTV) cameras to survey the parking areas should continue. The building corners of the proposed new facilities are prime locations for CCTV cameras.

In addition to the cameras, emergency telephones will be located throughout at prescribed intervals and locations.

Signage
An existing signage master plan has been adopted and continues to be implemented. Additional directional signage is proposed at the locations indicated on the Phase Plans in the opening pages of this document. It is recommended that A Building and B Building be renamed to two letter designations, in keeping with the balance of the campus. Two letter designations should also be employed at future buildings.