Lone Star College-CyFair
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Lone Star College-CyFair, formerly Cy-Fair College, is one of five colleges in the Lone Star College System located in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United States of America.
As more and more of Texas’ natural environment is swallowed up by commercial and residential development, the 200-acre Cy-Fair College campus was planned to serve as a model of environmentally responsible development within a sensitive ecosystem, in this case the rapidly vanishing 1,000-square-mile Katy Prairie.
The Houston office of The SWA Group (an international land planning, landscape architecture, and urban design firm) created the campus and landscape architecture plans in collaboration with Gensler Architects, the nonprofit Katy Prairie Conservancy, the Houston community, and others.
It opened on August 25, 2003 to serve the Cy-Fair community. This $95 million, 200-acre campus was built with local bond money and as of the day of its opening, Lone Star College-CyFair is the only new comprehensive college or university developed in the United States.
LSC-CyFair opened its doors with two innovative partnerships, one a joint-use library with Harris County and the other a partnership with the Emergency Services District #9 and the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department.
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[edit] Environmentally-Sensitive Campus Plan
The Cy-Fair College campus not only works with the land, it rehabilitates the land.
First, the majority of the previously cleared and over-grazed 200-acre site was restored to its native flora and environment. The undulating hills and meadows are now covered in native grasses like Indiangrass, Little Bluestem, and Gulf Coast Muhly, as well as Coreopsis and Liatris wildflowers, and groves of over 3,200 native and indigenous prairie trees like Loblolly Pines, Bald Mexican Sycamores, and Live Oaks.
Second, 18 acres of lakes, ponds, and bayous replicate the Katy Prairie’s natural wetlands system. Underwater shelves in the larger lakes were planted with native aquatic plants, including Arrowhead and Sand Spikerush. The five buildings in the campus core front some of these lakes.
Third, stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots, and building roofs is captured by the lake system where it is retained, naturally cleansed, and later used for campus irrigation.
Fourth, the campus uses natural systems to protect and enhance the prairie and campus environment. Over 3,200 native and indigenous prairie trees have been planted along the roads and at campus and building entries, throughout parking lots, and along the central lake to significantly reduce heat islands, clean the air, and further integrate the College into the Katy Prairie.
With the restoration of native habitat, wildlife like beaver and deer have already returned to the site, and thousands of migratory birds are using the campus wetlands.
[edit] Harris County Public Library Cy-Fair Branch
The county and the college collaborated to create a joint-use library to enhance services to the public and the college and to save tax dollars. This 78,000 sq. ft. blended library has resulted in extended hours, community meeting rooms, 200+ computers, a children’s library, teen room, both tutoring and counseling for students and the public. Not only do the librarians teach research to college students, but also teach English as a Second Language classes, develop community programming using the vast academic resources of a college, teach computer workshops, and sponsor book clubs. The county funds the salary of one counselor so career counseling and resume help can be offered to the public free of charge.
[edit] EMS Training Center and Fire Station
According to Cy-Facts and Figures:
In partnership with the Emergency Services District #9 and the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, a $4 million Emergency Services Training Center was built on college land. Students in Fire Science and Emergency Medical services programs . . . have opportunities to develop hands-on skills in this working fire station that includes a simulated emergency room and a state-of-the-art burn facility. The programming that is possible through this facility and the training partnership that it supports will allow the NW Harris County area to meet its need to train firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics.(13)
[edit] Workforce Needs
The growth of the area prompted LSC-CyFair to provide the area with programs which would support the rapidly changing workplace and world. The support of the business community was a key factor in the success of the petition to create the college and the workforce development programs reflect these needs including emergency services, health careers and nursing, technology and manufacturing.
[edit] External Links
[edit] References
Cy-Fair College. North Harris Montgomery Community College District. “Facts and Figures.” NHMCCD. nd. circa Sept. 2003.
Troyer, Diane. “President’s College Update: Cy-Fair College Surpasses the 11, 000 Student Mark.” Email to the Cy-Fair College employees. 9 Sept. 2006.
