Lamar University — and a higher education featured M2L landscaping project — are showcased on the Amazon Prime streaming series “The College Tour,” a unique reality series that allows students and their families to virtually tour college campuses around the nation, giving them a valuable head start on the all-important college search.
Lamar University, a public research university in Beaumont, Texas, is featured in season 8 episode 11 of the series, released in 2023. Viewers hear firsthand from 10 students about academics, campus activities, student organizations, community outreach and internship opportunities, and the overall Cardinal experience.
M2L has worked on two campus locations at Lamar, one of which is featured in the episode: The Nancy and Ken Evans Welcome Center and new campus gateway (see 4:02) are a compelling backdrop for the episode’s segment highlighting Lamar’s transfer experience. M2L also worked on the Cherry Engineering Building, which now houses the university’s civil and environmental engineering department.
Michael Mauer, who led M2L’s design teams on both the welcome center and the engineering building, said he is incredibly proud to see Lamar University — and the firm’s work — land on the series. “Lamar University is reinventing itself as a high-value, broad-based academic and research option with critical-need applications and programs that reach more students than ever,” he said. “Lamar’s strong roots in oil and gas and its rich and diverse alumni and student populations, tightly woven in Beaumont’s legacy, inspired our themes and designs.”
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In 2021, M2L worked with leading higher-education architect Huitt-Zollars on the new 6,800-sq-ft Nancy and Ken Evans Welcome Center, which now serves as the main university gateway. M2L’s designs featured low-maintenance and sustainable landscapes to help showcase outdoor gathering spaces to welcome campus visitors and to serve as a point of departure for campus walking tours. One hallmark of the welcome center design is the focus on a series of distinctive art pieces that celebrate the best and brightest of Lamar University. The video shows a captivating view of the art feature from above.
Landscape elements contributed to achieving LEED silver accreditation. Native plants were specified for low-water requirements, quick establishment and developmental growth. An innovative, evapotranspiration-based, automated irrigation system efficiently delivers required water while allowing for seasonal or climate adjustments.
Michael Mauer, M2L principal and lead landscape architect on the projects, said he was thrilled to see Lamar University get exposure on Amazon Prime.
“Lamar is a beautiful and vibrant campus that has much to offer students and the community,” Mauer said. “Our firm enjoyed collaborating on both projects and I’m thrilled that the Amazon series helps the university get noticed.”