Lone Star College–CyFair

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.VisionAs more and more of Texas’ natural environment is developed by commercial and residential properties, the 200acre 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 1000sqmi Katy Prairie.Campus planThe Cy-Fair College campus not only works with the land, it rehabilitates the land.First, the majority of the previously cleared and over-grazed 200acre 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, 18acre 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.