What’s changing at Sylvania’s PAC Plaza
The Performing Arts Center (PAC) Plaza is one of several outdoor areas being improved as part of Future Sylvania, a major redevelopment project that includes a full renovation of the Communications Technology (CT) Building, renovations in several other campus buildings, and improvements to outdoor areas across this part of campus.
Improvements to the PAC Plaza will create a more accessible, welcoming, and functional space for everyone. New ramps, pathways, and resurfacing will make it easier for all community members to move through and use the plaza, with improved connections to surrounding buildings. These improvements are part of a larger effort to address accessibility barriers throughout the Sylvania campus, including routes to nearby buildings and accessible parking.
“This project is going to significantly improve access to campus, with easier, more inclusive routes. It’s making good on the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Jennifer Gossett, ADA/504 Compliance Manager
Plans for the PAC Plaza also include refreshed landscaping with a mix of native plants and trees to replace the existing wisteria. New plantings will support pollinators and provide year-round visual interest through changing colors, textures, and bloom times. A Solar panel canopy will provide shade and rain cover throughout the year, and updated seating will offer more options for gathering and studying outdoors.
Learn more about the project, the wisteria, and what’s planned for the PAC Plaza below.
What is the Future Sylvania project, and what other changes are coming to campus?
Future Sylvania is a multi-phase redevelopment of the Sylvania Campus. At the center of the project is a full renovation of the Communications Technology (CT) Building, along with renovations in several other campus buildings and improvements to outdoor areas around CT.
The project includes improvements to the PAC Plaza, Bookstore Plaza, campus circulation and connections, and other outdoor areas. Together, the work will update aging buildings and infrastructure, improve accessibility, make it easier to move around campus, and create more welcoming indoor and outdoor spaces.
Learn more about the Future Sylvania project.
When will the PAC Plaza improvements begin?
Work on the PAC Plaza is expected to begin in 2027.
Why is the PAC Plaza being redesigned?
The PAC Plaza is an important outdoor gathering space, but its existing paving and some of the routes connecting to it do not meet current accessibility standards. The redesign will add new ramps, pathways, and resurfacing to create more accessible connections between the plaza and surrounding buildings. These improvements will also make it easier for community members to move through and use the plaza. Plans include new seating, improved lighting, landscaping, solar panel canopies, and other infrastructure to support everyday activities and event use.
How will the redesign improve accessibility?
Improving accessibility is a central part of the PAC Plaza redesign. New ramps, pathways, and resurfacing will create more accessible routes through the plaza and better connections with surrounding buildings. The redesign will also create more inclusive pathways, allowing people who use mobility devices and those who use stairs to travel together, rather than take separate routes. Improvements will also make the plaza’s emergency assembly area more accessible.
This work is part of ±Ê°ä°ä’s broader commitment to identifying and removing accessibility barriers across the college. ±Ê°ä°ä’s ADA Comprehensive Transition Plan includes priorities for accessible paths of travel and accessible wayfinding, including specific work at the Sylvania Campus.
Learn more about accessibility at ¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½.
Did ¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½ consider keeping the wisteria?
Yes. The project team worked with contractors and consultants to explore options for preserving the wisteria. Unfortunately, preserving it wasn’t possible with the improvements planned for the plaza. The wisteria’s beloved spring blooms helped shape the new landscape design.
What is wisteria, and how can it affect its surroundings?
Wisteria is a woody, flowering vine known for its clusters of purple, blue, or white flowers. The wisteria at Sylvania is not native to the Pacific Northwest and has an aggressive growth habit. While its size and beauty have made it a recognizable part of the Sylvania Campus, its vigorous growth can impact nearby trees and structures. At Sylvania, its growth is also affecting mechanical and plumbing systems below ground.
What will replace the wisteria?
Plans for the redesigned plaza include new landscaping with native and climate-resilient plants suited to our region, local ecology, and the microhabitats on campus. Native and drought-resistant landscaping can require less water and maintenance while providing habitat and food sources for critical pollinators, including species that are in decline.
The plantings around the plaza will also provide year-round visual interest, with vibrant fall colors, distinctive forms and branching structures in winter, and a variety of blooms throughout spring and summer.
This work builds on ±Ê°ä°ä’s existing commitment to healthy campus landscapes and habitat. ±Ê°ä°ä’s Sustainability team supports programs and partnerships across the college, including Bee Campus USA and Tree Campus Higher Education. At Sylvania, this includes an apiary at the Learning Garden that gives students opportunities to learn about bees and the important role of pollinators.
±Ê°ä°ä’s dedicated Facilities Management Services grounds team plays an important role in caring for campus landscapes and supporting native plants and healthy habitats across the college.
What will the redesigned PAC Plaza be like?
The redesigned plaza will be a more accessible, welcoming, and functional space for everyday use and campus events. Plans include new ramps and pathways, new seating, improved lighting, and new landscaping. Solar photovoltaic (PV) canopies will provide shade and rain cover, creating a more comfortable year-round gathering space while reducing heat gain.
How is sustainability being incorporated into the project?
Sustainability is being considered throughout Future Sylvania, including landscaping, habitat, stormwater management, transportation, climate impacts, and resilience. The project’s sustainability planning is informed by ±Ê°ä°ä’s Climate Action Plan and includes a focus on protecting and enhancing natural features and native plant communities.
At the PAC Plaza, sustainability features include native landscaping that can reduce water and maintenance needs and support pollinators. Solar panel canopies will provide shade and rain cover while helping reduce heat gain.
The Future Sylvania project will also create a regional stormwater facility designed to capture and filter runoff from a large portion of campus. It will help remove sediment and pollutants before water returns to the storm system, while holding and slowly releasing stormwater to help reduce downstream flooding and improve water quality in the surrounding watershed. Stormwater management has been part of the project’s sustainability planning, with goals that include integrating stormwater facilities with the landscape and supporting ±Ê°ä°ä’s broader climate goals.
How can I learn more about native plants and sustainability at Sylvania?
±Ê°ä°ä’s Sustainability team leads and supports work at Sylvania focused on native plants, habitat, and the campus environment. This work includes habitat restoration, the Native Wildflower Propagation Area, and the Learning Garden, where students and community members can learn more about sustainable gardening and food systems.
Visit the Sylvania Learning Garden and learn more about sustainability at ¶¶Òõ¸£Àûµ¼º½.
Who should I contact if I have more questions?
For more information about the PAC Plaza improvements, wisteria removal, or the Future Sylvania project, contact ±Ê°ä°ä’s Office of Planning and Construction at OPC@pcc.edu.