2010 annual report - Texas Southern University

RenaISSance campus & CommunityAlthough Executive Director of Buildings and Grounds Darrell Bunch hasonly been with Texas Southern for two years, he brings nearly 20 years ofexperience to the University. And this experience shows, as TSU is becominga greener, cleaner and more visibly stunning campus each and every day.The Vicksburg, MS native came to the Houstonarea in 1988 after earning a degree in landscapearchitecture from Mississippi State University. Hefeels that his previous stops at Prairie View A&MUniversity, the University of Houston and in privateindustry prepared him for landing at TSU.“My transition to TSU has been great,” says Bunch.“There is more of a family atmosphere here thanat any other place I’ve worked. “At TSU, I get thesense that it’s about team effort.”A pleasant working environment allows Bunchto pay closer attention to the details of our campusthat require beautification. Bunch is chieflyresponsible for overseeing the University’s groundsmaintenance, custodial services, the campus recyclingprogram. He also manages Tiger Labor(inner-office deliveries and relocations) and TMADispatch, a service that processes all incoming callsto TSU requesting various on-campus services.green space was developed to replace TierwesterStreet as TSU’s eastern border and ties into theUniversity’s master plan for a greener, more studentand pedestrian-friendly campus.But despite the high-profile, wholesale changes ofthe Tierwester project, Bunch says that his mostrewarding landscape project was a much moreobscure area of campus located on south side of theStudent Center.“I enjoyed most working on the Founder’s PointProject,” Bunch says of the small, thoughtfullylandscaped of seating area. His efforts in this areawill serve to foster unity among students, as eachcampus organization have their own designatedbenches arranged in a circular fashion to encouragecommunication. It is a place where all studentsgroup members — from the Student GovernmentAssociation to Greek letter organizations — canconnect.As the leader of his team, Bunch brings extensiveexperience in landscape design and construction, aswell as a different perspective which he has utilizedto first envision, then enact the landscaping changesbehind the student center as well as the Tierwesterextreme makeover and street closing. The expandedIn addition to creating an oasis for students,Bunch’s sharp eye for environmental beautyremains focused on the larger picture. He’s determinedto make sure that everyone who strolls thecampus enjoys their surroundings and leaves witha renewed sense of pride.19