.jpeg)
Since 2018, Mullin has partnered with Loyola University New Orleans through an ongoing landscape maintenance and campus improvement relationship spanning approximately 30 acres across the university’s historic campus. What began as a maintenance contract has evolved into a long-term partnership that includes more than six separate landscape and construction projects, allowing the university to maintain a cohesive campus environment while addressing evolving operational and aesthetic needs.
One of the most visible projects within this partnership was the enhancement of the landscape surrounding Holy Name of Jesus Church, an approximately 11,000 SF outdoor space that serves both the Loyola community and the broader New Orleans public. The project was designed to support circulation, gathering, and informal recreation while complementing the character of the historic campus and church grounds.
Managing and improving a campus landscape requires balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders while maintaining uninterrupted operations. Over the course of the partnership, projects have required coordination with university leadership, church representatives, faculty, students, and facilities personnel, each bringing different priorities and expectations for how campus spaces should function.
The church landscape project presented a unique opportunity to create a space that could support both daily campus activity and community use following services and special events. The design needed to accommodate a variety of users while preserving accessibility, circulation, and the visual character of the surrounding campus environment.
Years of maintaining the Loyola campus provided valuable insight into site conditions, drainage patterns, irrigation performance, seasonal challenges, and user behavior. This familiarity allowed the team to approach each project with a deeper understanding of how individual improvements would integrate into the larger campus landscape.
For the church grounds, stakeholder input helped identify priorities such as shade, seating, gathering areas, and open space for families and visitors. Plant selections emphasized durability, long-term performance, and compatibility with existing campus landscapes, while irrigation improvements were designed to support healthy plant growth and efficient water use.
Because Mullin oversees both maintenance and project implementation, design decisions were made with long-term stewardship in mind, ensuring that improvements would remain attractive and functional for years to come.
Over the course of the relationship, Mullin has completed a variety of landscape and site improvement projects while continuing comprehensive maintenance across approximately 30 acres of campus property.
The Holy Name of Jesus Church landscape project included site preparation, grading, hardscape and softscape installation, irrigation, and planting. Work was carefully coordinated around academic schedules, campus events, and pedestrian circulation to minimize disruptions and maintain safe access throughout construction.
The ability to self-perform both maintenance and construction services created continuity between planning, installation, and ongoing care, resulting in efficient project delivery and consistent campus standards.
The partnership has helped Loyola maintain a welcoming, well-managed campus environment while strategically improving key outdoor spaces over time. The church landscape now serves as an extension of both the campus and the parish, supporting post-service gatherings, student activity, and seasonal events throughout the year.
More broadly, the long-term relationship has allowed the university to approach landscape improvements as part of a cohesive campus strategy rather than a series of isolated projects. With ongoing maintenance and continued collaboration, campus landscapes remain attractive, functional, and aligned with Loyola’s commitment to providing exceptional spaces for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
