Land Use & grounds
Universities are constantly growing to meet the needs of growing enrollment and a changing society. As NC State sits in the heart of Raleigh, NC, a city consistently voted among the best places to live and do business, we must balance the use of space over time with our educational mission and the guiding principles in our Physical Master Plan. This balance includes land use (agriculture, industrial, open space, etc), conservation and protection of natural areas, restoration and repairing damaged natural areas, stormwater runoff and managing the grounds and landscape. To ensure we are adhering to our mission, space allocations are approved by the University Space Committee.
Through the master planning process NC State has examined the institution’s impact on the surrounding community and attempted to minimize any detrimental effects. Several of the guiding principles in the Physical Master Plan and the Centennial Campus Master Plan  illustrate our commitment including sustainability, pedestrian-oriented campus, mixed-use activities and open space to encourage communication, design harmony with existing structures and natural systems and efficient, responsible development.