A bicyclist rides past some flowers with the Gamow Physics Tower in background. (Photo/Casey A. Cass)

One of the most commonly admired qualities of the University of Colorado at Boulder is its beautiful campus. Since 1984, several Facilities Management staff have worked hard to maintain its renowned appearance. Now, the department has hired Ann Mullins, a landscape architect, to offer expertise on enhancing the campus grounds.

Mullins is in charge of designing and planning projects for all open space on the CU-Boulder campus. She is currently working on finding low water solutions for areas where grass is difficult to maintain, and recently completed a project at the corner of Regent and Colorado.

"The campus and its constituencies are well served by someone of Ann's professional caliber watching over the space between our universally admired collection of buildings," said Bill Deno, retired campus architect. "The campus landscape should be considered equal in importance to the design and impact of our signature buildings."

Just as Klauder's Tuscan Vernacular building style stemmed from the availability of local resources, Mullins plans to use more native and regionally appropriate plant materials on campus.

"In landscape architecture you can be an artist and also be very analytical," said Mullins. "I think people on campus will be pleased to see what a landscape architect can contribute."

Mullins, a fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Wells College in New York and a master's degree in landscape architecture and environmental planning from Utah State University. In 1984 she co-founded Civitas, an urban design and planning firm in Denver.