University of Tulsa Campus Landscape and Transportation Improvements

Strengthening campus connectivity and reinforcing a unified landscape vision, these improvements support a more walkable and welcoming environment.

The University of Tulsa’s campus transformation began with a bold vision – one that looked beyond buildings to the spaces in between. Guided by the 1995 Campus Master Plan and its ongoing updates, a series of campus-wide improvements set out to create a more unified, welcoming environment across the 160-acre site.

Streetscape enhancements were among the first visible changes. Delaware Avenue, Fourth Place, Fifth Street and Gary Avenue were all reimagined with new lighting, tree-lined walkways and modern irrigation, turning standard corridors into active, people-friendly spaces. Parking areas, often overlooked in campus design, were softened and humanized with planting islands, hedge screens and green buffers that helped them integrate naturally with the surrounding landscape.

At the heart of the project was a comprehensive pedestrian and vehicle circulation system. Wide walkways connected academic halls, athletic venues and student housing, while carefully planned routes accommodated service access, bicycle traffic and foot traffic without disrupting the formal layout of the campus. New grading, site furnishings and lighting created a comfortable and intuitive environment that supported both movement and moments of pause.

Behind this transformation was Howell & Vancuren, now part of Wallace Design Collective, who provided full landscape architecture services from master planning through design, construction documentation and observation. Their work laid the foundation for a more connected, functional and beautiful campus that continues to serve students and visitors today.