The design generated for Cottey College by JBC looked at the campus holistically and utilized the resources already in place, particularly the heritage of mature trees that define the character of the landscape. The ground plane is a field of green that ties together all of the different architectural elements under the canopy of trees. By removing some of the eye-level clutter (particularly some of the existing shrubs), the ground plane was simplified and used to visually tie the campus elements together.

Rather than impose formal order on what has developed as an informal landscape, we instead focused on maintaining the integrity of these elements intact as a guide for future development. In an effort to define campus boundaries, a series of linear groves of trees were planted along the edges of the campus and along a major arterial sidewalk. The allee formed by the trees and sidewalks creates a strong connection between the buildings on the west end of the campus and a newly Academic Center. Ornamental trees were used to highlight some of the spaces within the campus by bringing seasonal color near entrances and major focal areas. Building entrances were framed with perennial beds. Perennial beds and shrubs were also used to highlight the corners of the campus that meet the surrounding community, creating a sense of entrance into the campus through the use of color and visual focus.