From manicured lawns to majestic trees to stately Old Morrison, Transylvania University’s 70-acre campus is a visual treat in the heart of an urban area.
The Downtown Lexington Partnership honored the school Monday with this year’s Landscape and Streetscape Award for the value its appearance brings not only to students, but to the entire community.
Visit Transylvania any time of year and you’ll see this commitment to campus beauty everywhere. For instance, Alumni Plaza has been transformed into a prime outdoor study space under a leafy canopy. It’s one of Director of Facilities Management Danny Knox’s favorite spots, especially in the evening “when the lights are on in the trees — very nice scenery,” he said.
Surroundings are an important aspect of college life. Transylvania students enjoy a variety of outdoor activities around campus, whether it’s tossing around a football in Back Circle (surrounded by attractive residence halls) or taking a class on the steps of Mitchell Fine Arts Center surrounded by fall foliage.
“That’s the reason that we’re here, is for the students,” Knox added.
Beyond that, motorists along North Broadway get nice views of the renovated and expanded Campus Center, along with the iconic Carpenter Academic Center sitting behind the “Transylvania” sign.
Sherry Holley ’88, president of award sponsor Gratz Park Private Wealth and Transylvania trustee, presented the honor, which recognizes an “outstanding effort in maintaining a visual pleasantness to downtown.”
Knox and President Brien Lewis accepted the recognition at the Downtown Lexington Partnership’s Annual Meeting and Awards of Excellence.
“There’s quite a bit behind the scenes as you can imagine,” Knox said. “We have quite a bit of ground to cover, lots of landscaping, shrubbery, mulch beds, things of that nature that require quite a bit of maintenance. So that’s basically a year-round project.”