Knight Campus Building Two

The University of Oregon continues to grow as a top-tier research institution dedicated to science and research that improves the quality of life for people in Oregon, the nation and the world. Construction of new research and classroom space is necessary to support expanded research activities and a larger student body.

Every effort is being made to ensure the integrity of the urban farming designated outdoor classroom and associated activities are maintained during the Knight Campus Building Two project. All planning and construction is working within the guidelines outlined in the Campus Plan and informed by the Physical Framework Vision Project. These documents, which incorporate extensive public input, identify buildable areas and open spaces. The Campus Plan also defines Outdoor Classroom space designated for use by the urban farming program.

The Knight Campus Building Two construction plan mostly leaves intact designated Urban Farm spaces.  Project plans do include a staging area that will utilize space commonly referred to as the back 40. While there are a number of urban farming activities conducted in this space, the area is designated for future development in the Campus Plan. Urban farming activities outside of the designated Urban Farm Outdoor Classroom included planting a number of trees, many of which will be impacted in the creation of a 30-foot work area needed to construct the building.

The University of Oregon Campus Tree Plan

In 2001, the UO adopted a Campus Tree Plan which acknowledges the campus’s physical landscape is an integral part of the university’s mission. The plan notes that the most essential, long-term component of the landscape is the tree canopy.

The Campus Tree Plan states that, whenever possible, the university should build in ways that preserve or relocate trees. If any trees must be removed, the requirements of the Campus Tree Plan are to be followed.

The University of Oregon remains fully committed to the urban farming program, and we deeply value the experiences it affords students across the entire campus community. We regret that some trees planted outside designated Urban Farm space will be lost and are working to preserve a number of the affected trees.

The university has coordinated with the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Farm to identify trees that will be transplanted to the new Urban Farm expansion site. Some students have agreed to help with the transplanting process.

Urban Farm Expansion

The university and College of Design is committed to the urban farming programming.

The Campus Plan acknowledges that the Urban Farm Outdoor Classroom should be preserved as the campus evolves, and articulates opportunities to showcase urban agriculture.

The College of Design, in spring of 2022, facilitated a consensus-based visioning process for the Urban Farm program that included students, faculty, and staff. The results of the visioning process were shared with College of Design faculty and students for iterative input. The visioning process cited a desire to expand research-informed coursework, enhance student experiences, and add cultivatable land. The university subsequently pledged $1 million to assist in implementing the project.

The Campus Planning Committee identified a number of potential expansion sites and presented them for feedback at an Open House on Oct. 27. There was overwhelming support for a 60,000-square-foot riverfront plot north of the railroad tracks. This site, which is significantly larger than the back 40, can accommodate displaced activities and provide additional cultivatable land in accordance with the urban farm visioning process.

 The Campus Planning Committee reviewed the site selection in November and has received approval to move forward with the riverfront site. The riverfront site project is in formative stage and a site survey has been commissioned. This also adheres to a 2021 Campus Plan Amendment that incorporated the university's land north of Franklin Boulevard. The amendment guides essential future campus development and connects people to the Willamette River based on Campus Plan principles while accommodating the university's long-term needs.