LANDSCAPE

Overview
As the result of being a military installation, existing landscape on the Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) portion of the Williams Campus is sparse. The majority of the open spaces are either dirt or turf, with a few scattered trees. The exception is the residential area west of North Avery, where mature trees shade the homes.

Irrigation is very limited due to the cost of providing water. No reclaimed water serves this area. Therefore, existing landscape has not been maintained and irrigated. Limited areas of desert plant materials are thriving, but they are the exception rather than the rule.

Landscape can contribute to the goal of creating a cohesive institutional image and a strong campus. As the campus grows in enrollment, the north portion of the campus and the south portion of the campus will need a strong pedestrian link. This link can best be defined through the use of both landscape and hardscape.

Phase 1 improvements should concentrate on creating the main entry at South Sossaman Road and North Avery with landscape improvements associated with the Phase 1 Classroom Office Building and its associated pedestrian courtyard. Parking lots should be planted upon their development. Future phases will look at the renovation and expansion of existing classroom facilities in the southern precinct. The surrounding areas should be landscaped in conjunction with the building program. Long term improvements, including a future Student Center building, Aviation and Aerospace facilities would develop a future pedestrian mall along East Tahoe Avenue as well as landscaped areas associated with the buildings.

The following recommendations address the particular areas of the Phase 1 improvements:

• Campus Entries and Avery Streetscape
• Classroom Pedestrian Courtyard
• Parking Lot Landscape

More generalized character descriptions are provided for future phases:

• Future Pedestrian Mall
• Academic District Connections
• Streetscapes
• Campus Perimeter

Campus Entries

• Main Entry: Avery at Sossaman Road will be the new main entry to CGCC at Williams Campus. Currently, the road is undifferentiated as an entry and does not portray the character of the campus.
  
  Recommendations: A gateway feature to CGCC should be developed along Sossaman Road at Avery. This would include a strong grove of Date Palm Trees (Phoenix dactylifera) with a colorful under story of groundcover and shrubs. These tall palms will form a landmark as one drives along Sossaman, calling out the main entry to campus.
  
• Signage: Signage should flank either side of the entry. Monument signs that incorporate the logo of CGCC and define this as the Williams Campus should be placed within a colorful bed of planting. The monument signs should coordinate in design with the other CGCC entry monument signs.
  
• Secondary Entry: A secondary entry will be developed at East Texas Road. Although the campus does not extend to Sossaman at this location, CGCC should work cooperatively with the adjoining property to allow signage and compatible landscape into the campus.
  
• Avery Streetscape: Once entering the campus along Avery, vehicles will proceed to their respective parking spaces and buildings. Avery currently has no street trees and "borrows" landscape from the surrounding residential area to the west. No curbs, gutters or sidewalks exist along the greater portion of Avery.

Recommendations: Avery should be improved with curbs, gutters and sidewalks as well as strong, defining street trees. Oak trees would be relatively drought tolerant, form strong canopies and provide substantial shade. Although they are slow growing, they need very little maintenance. By planting in an earlier phase of campus development, the trees can mature and give the campus a more permanent feel as it develops in the future.


• Classroom Pedestrian Courtyard: The first new clusters of buildings will create a pedestrian courtyard north of the new Classroom/Office building and west of future aviation, aerospace expansion. This courtyard will provide an entry to the classroom buildings, a place for students to gather, and will supplement the development of the main campus entry. The courtyard should include shade trees, lattice or shade structures, benches and tables, trash and ash receptacles as well as signage.
  
• Parking Lot Landscape: New parking lots will be developed to support the growth of the Williams Campus. These and existing parking lots should be landscaped to provide shade and reduce heat gain and reflection from asphalt surfaces and parked cars.

Recommendations: 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 80 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. Increasing the spacing of trees can provide substantially more shade and an effort should be made to provide trees spaced at 30 feet on center.


• Future Phase Developments: Much of the Williams Campus will be developed in future phases. This master plan sets out generalized recommendations for consideration as new projects are funded.

Future Pedestrian Mall: East Tahoe Avenue is intended to be a future pedestrian mall that ties the Occupational District together with the Academic District. The mall should not be blocked with buildings, maintaining views through the campus. Planting should be strong canopy trees, providing shade for pedestrians with seating underneath. The use of deciduous trees is recommended so that winter sunlight is provided into future classroom and academic space.

Academic District Connections: A pedestrian connection should be developed between the campus along Tahoe/Avery and the Academic District at Texas and Kent Streets. This would require dedicated pedestrian walks south from the East Tahoe Pedestrian Mall, along the ASU facilities and then connecting into the existing academic buildings. Like the pedestrian mall, the plantings should be strong canopy trees to provide shade. As this connection runs primarily north-south, either evergreen or deciduous trees are appropriate.

Streetscapes: Streetscapes within the campus should be landscaped in much the same way Avery is recommended to be treated. As these will also serve as pedestrian corridors, sidewalks under the cover of shade trees are suggested.

Campus Perimeter: The recent city installed landscape along Sossaman Road is currently the only perimeter landscape for the campus. The appearance is rather bleak and industrial in nature. The campus should consider a program of perimeter planting, outside future building envelopes, which would establish a campus perimeter. Due to limited irrigation water, this area could be appropriately landscaped with Sonoran desert or other drought tolerant species. Rich plantings of Palo Verde, Mesquites, Yuccas and Desert Ironwood with an under story of agave, ocotillo, aloe and sages would establish a strong perimeter character without unnecessary irrigation.