BYU campus changes

I've worked on campus for a long, long time.  I came as a student in 1973.  I've seen many changes take place and it seems like there is always a building project going on at some location on campus.  This summer is no different.  BYU is changing the driving routes around campus and it is going to have a very different look and feel.  Not all change is bad, it just takes time to get use to it.  Such is the case with this latest remodel.

A couple of months ago, I attended an annual university conference for "office professionals" over a three day period.  The conference offers wonderful lectures and tours around campus and this year I attended one on BYU Physical Facilities.  It was so interesting!  I learned a lot more about what it takes to run a campus the size of BYU.  There are so many campus trails and walking paths, gardens, recycling efforts and much, much more.  We got the inside scoop on all that is going on with the grounds and the maintenance of those grounds.   BYU has an award winning campus.  Check out this interesting map here.  The trees, flowers, plants, bushes and lawns look amazing for a campus that is located in a desert.  They use water conservation techniques to be user friendly to the environment. It is always so clean and well maintained.  It is a beautiful university campus. Check out their web site here.

BYU Buildings, Grounds, and Transportation is responsible for:

• 200 acres of landscaping, 72 miles of sidewalks, 12 miles of roads and 200 acres of parking
• 10.5 million square feet of building floor space, which includes campus, Missionary Training Center and the Motion Picture Studio
• Hires 1500 students
• Maintains a vehicle fleet totaling 625 vehicles, providing rental, repairs, and service.
• Provides space for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sundays in 28 academic buildings for 170 Wards’ in 17 Stakes.

The Grounds Department works to create an inspiring outdoor setting for all people at BYU. With a standard of excellence supporting every endeavor, Grounds accepts Brigham Young’s challenge to, “render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations.”
Grounds operates with four separate specializations—landscape specialty, gardening maintenance, plant and floral, site development and recycling. Each shop works to make the campus neat, clean and beautiful.

Campus Drive is being completely redesigned over three phases.  Read more about it here and see the maps. It's going to be another long, hot, orange cone summer on campus, but worth it in the end.