Inspiring people. Nurturing landscapes.

Mercer University Challenge

With a strong academic reputation dating

back to 1833, Mercer University’s 153-acre

main campus is located in downtown

Macon, Georgia. Knowing that first

impressions make a significant impact on

enrollment decisions of prospective

students and their parents, the University’s

Facilities Department needed their

landscaping to create a stunning and memorable impression of the campus. The in-

house landscaping crews simply focused on mowing and did not have the capabilities

needed. In addition, the campus landscape management needs change constantly.

Whether it’s a new building, special requests or events, the Facilities Department

needed a way to respond effectively and efficiently.

Process

The university began outsourcing their campus landscape maintenance to Brickman in

2001 with the goal to provide consistent maintenance and design and install landscape

upgrades. Brickman created a comprehensive daily maintenance plan with a dedicated,

full-time service crew to:

Keep high-traffic turf areas healthy and vibrant under year-round student

recreational use

Highlight campus focal areas by using a seasonal flower rotation program

Provide special attention to the landscaping of the President's and alumni houses

and the historic houses of the Law School, which frequently host visitors

Maintain an extensive irrigation system which includes 35 controllers with over

400 zones to ensure efficient operation and better looking plants

Prepare for special events such as homecoming, prospective student visits, and

graduation including providing game day grounds clean-up services when Mercer

added a new NCAA Division I football program in the fall of 2013

Install plant materials and modify daily operations upon completion of new

construction projects to ensure plant growth and health

Inspiring people. Nurturing landscapes.

Result

Over the years Mercer’s Facilities Department has grown to rely on the Brickman team

to anticipate needs and respond to unexpected situations or special requests. Two

recent examples include:

Responding to the university president’s request to spread pine straw mulch for

important visitors coming to campus by bringing in extra crews and working until

9pm for three days to ensure the campus looked top-notch

Clearing campus sidewalks on a Sunday following an unusual snow storm

Outsourcing landscape management services significantly improved the look of the

campus, contributing to increased enrollment while also reducing costs. Carol Hodges,

Supervisor of Grounds noted, “Outsourcing to Brickman provided professional

landscaping services we simply didn’t have, making our campus look great. Plus it is

much more economical than doing it ourselves and much easier to manage now,

especially when we

get special requests.

Brickman has gone

above and beyond

countless times.”

The Princeton Review

recognized Mercer

University’s Macon

campus with its “immaculate landscaping” as one of the top five most beautiful

campuses in the nation in 2005. Of course many factors play into enrollment numbers,

but campuses only get one chance to make a great first impression and award-winning

landscaping certainly plays a vital role. Mercer University enrolled the largest freshmen

class ever in the fall of 2013 and gained a 10.6% increase in total enrollment over the

last five years.

Inspiring people. Nurturing landscapes.

Inspiring people. Nurturing landscapes.