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Landscape Plan

The Landscape Plan (pdf) for William & Mary will guide the development of a cohesive and sustainable landscape that enhances William & Mary's academic mission, supports the community’s needs and reflects the university’s values and identity.

One column table detailing a collapsible list of planning committee members.

Landscape Planning Committee

  • Tony Orband (Chair), Associate Director of Grounds & Gardens
  • David Brashear, Director of the Muscarelle Museum
  • Martha Case, Associate Professor of Biology and College Conservator of Botanical Collections
  • Kelly Crace, Associate Vice President for Health & Wellness and Director of the Center for Mindfulness and Authentic Excellence
  • Charles Fulcher, Director of Wren Operations & Events
  • Sue Gerdelman '76, Former Secretary, W&M Board of Visitors; W&M Foundation
  • Heather Golden, Chief Marketing Officer
  • Emily Rivest, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
  • John Swaddle, Professor of Biology, Faculty Director of the W&M Institute for Integrative Conservation
  • Taylor Uem '26, Student Representative
  • Aayla Kastning, Student Representative

Guiding Principles

The guiding principles articulate the key ideas and goals that drive the 100-Year Landscape Plan. The principles take care to be as inclusive and as intersectional as possible, respecting the ever-changing make up of faculty, staff and students on campus. The principles also are understanding of visitors and the Williamsburg community, and are inviting of all groups to experience the campus landscape and its offerings.

  • Create a nature-positive campus.

    Create and maintain a campus environment that not only minimizes harm to nature but also actively contributes to the restoration and enhancement of natural ecosystems and provide ecological services. This principle emphasizes the importance of incorporating green spaces, sustainable practices and biodiversity-friendly initiatives in the campus design and operations.

  • Envision the campus landscape as research and learning space.

    Learning environments should have ample writing surfaces and display screens to allow for seamless sharing of ideas and information.

  • Reinforce the campus landscape’s recreation, well being and eco-therapeutic benefits

    Nurture, promote and revitalize campus outdoor spaces that also enhance community connections with nature and foster health and well-being.

  • Strengthen landscape aesthetics and performance that respect the past and embody the future.

    Create campus landscapes that honor historical and cultural heritage while also incorporating forward-thinking and innovative design elements. Define and assess performance metrics to ensure that sustainability goals are met during and after construction and landscape projects.

  • Share the landscape with the wider community.

    Design and manage campus landscape resources in a way that benefits not only the campus population but also the surrounding community. Preserve landscapes that perform vital ecosystem services that maintain clean air and water resources for the community.

Focus Areas

Focus Areas

As part of the comprehensive landscape planning effort, four primary opportunity sites have been identified: the Historic Campus, the Central Woods, the Matoaka Edge and the Recreation District.

Four identified focus areas of Landscape Plan.

Read the Campus Comprehensive Plan

If you experience any difficulty accessing the information due to a disability, please contact us at [[campusplan]] for assistance. The following is provided in PDF format.