The University of Texas at Austin values the diverse species of trees on campus as well as the conservation role trees play in green building efforts. This principle is reflected in the university’s sustained commitment to maintaining and restoring campus ecosystems. UT Austin has been awarded Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for eleven years running. UT has an excellent track record of moving healthy, heritage trees when constructing new facilities or reusing trees within the structures if it becomes necessary to harvest them. For example, over a 15 year period UT Austin transplanted 55 trees with a 93% survival rate.
Below are examples of green building projects where tree transplants were part of the construction scope:
- Darrel K. Royal Stadium and AT&T Conference Center: This project was awarded landscape project of the year in 2007 by the Texas Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.
- Norman Hackerman Building: This project was awarded the arboricultural project of the year in 2010 by the Texas Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.
- Student Activity Center and College of Liberal Arts
- Dell Medical School