CAMPUS AS FOREST
Regenerative Campus Landscape Plan
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This report was produced for Catawba College as a result of the Regenerative Campus Landscape Planning efforts.
We thank those individuals who have contributed time, interest and experience in shaping a successful plan.
Catawba College Regenerative Campus Planning Leadership:
- David Nelson, College President
- Lee Ball, Vice President for Sustainability / Exec. Director, CENV
- Monica Cowart, Executive Vice President & Provost
- Bob Wallet, Vice President of Finance & Administration
- Stacy Gato, Vice President of Enrollment Management
- Michelle Caddigan, Director for Athletics
- Meg Kluttz Dees, Vice President of Development
- Kendra Joyner-Miller, Chaplain and Director of Lilly Center
Faculty & Staff:
- Garrett Solomon, Assoc. Vice President of Facilities & Capital Planning
- John Wear, Director Emeritus, CENV
- Lisa Pope, Adjunct Instructor, Environment & Sustainability
- Cathy Green, Director of Operations, CENV
- Hannah Addair, Sustainability Program Director
- Noah Upchurch, Sustainability Program Director
- Isaac Haut, Education Outreach Specialist, CENV
- Michaelyn Dorin, Office Manager, CENV
- Justin Tyler Owens, Dean of Student
- Jeremiah Kelly, Director of Campus Events
- Cassandra Jenkins, Director of Housing and Residence Life
- Frannie Taylor, Interiors Project Manager
Hellmuth, Obata, Kassabaum, Inc. (HOK)
- Sean Quinn, Director of Regenerative Design
- Suzette Goldstein, Director of Planning
- Autumn Visconti, Regional Leader, Landscape Architecture
- Phillip Gangan, Sr. Sustainable Design Specialist
- Harold De la Rosa, Landscape Architect
- Hardi Shah, Sustainable Design Specialist
- Hanyu Gao, Landscape Design Professional
- Eddie Fang Guo, Sustainable Design Specialist
- Maggie Walsh, Sr. Consultant
- Marcin Rysniak, Sr. Visualization Specialist
EcoMetrix Solutions Group (EMX)
- Kenna Halsey, Chief Executive Officer
- Kevin Halsey, Senior Ecosystem Services Analyst
- Morgan Erhardt, Ecological Modeling Director
- James Koloszar, Sr. Ecologist
- Alison Koloszar, Ecologist
Biomimicry 3.8
- Nicole Miller, Chief Executive Officer
- Rachel Hahs, Principal
- Brittany Jerlinga, Biologist
CATAWBA COLLEGE
REGENERATIVE CAMPUS LANDSCAPE PLAN
Catawba College’s Regenerative Campus Landscape Plan establishes the foundation for a transformative vision that unites the College’s academic mission with ecological regeneration and community resilience. The plan synthesizes campus and community stakeholder insights to frame a comprehensive approach rooted in eco-systems and place-based design.
The Campus as Forest vision aims to cultivate a campus that functions as a living-learning laboratory, integrating community, ecology, education and innovation. Rooted through foundational Principles, Goals, and Strategies, the Catawba Canopy plan incorporates three overarching frameworks: campus experience, natural regeneration, and academic research to achieve nature-positive impact. Integrating a regenerative tool kit and Fully Integrated Thinking framework structures a Regenerative Roadmap for Catawba, employing data-driven feedback loops to guide adaptive and measurable progress.
Drawing from the Piedmont’s distinct landscape, the plan translates regional ecology into actionable programmatic elements that advance learning and environmental stewardship. Integrated frameworks, programming and phasing strategies create achievable pathways toward implementation. Campus zones are defined by thematic characteristics that bridge landscape, culture and curriculum, demonstrating how regeneration can be both practical and inspirational.
Ultimately, this Conceptual Plan serves as the blueprint for creating a regenerative campus: one that restores natural systems, enriches the student experience, and positions Catawba College as a national leader in environmental stewardship.
