Nevada State University is looking ahead to what its Henderson campus could become as it grows to serve more students and strengthen its connections with the surrounding community.
On Sept. 23, the university and Urban Land Institute Nevada (ULI) shared recommendations for the long-term use of approximately 452 acres of undeveloped university land. The ideas include a more welcoming campus entrance, additional spaces for students to live and gather, and better walking connections across campus and into Henderson.
The recommendations grew out of a three-day visit in May by a multidisciplinary ULI Technical Assistance Panel. Panel members toured the campus, spoke with stakeholders and studied opportunities involving land use, infrastructure, financing, sustainability and campus life.
“The value of this process is the range of practical ideas it provides as we evaluate what responsible growth could look like for Nevada State,” said Dr. Amber Lopez Lasater, Executive Director and President of Nevada State Campus Lands Corp. “Our next step is to carefully study these recommendations, engage our partners and determine which concepts best support our students and the university’s long-term needs.”
A campus designed for connection
The panel encouraged Nevada State to consider how future development could make campus a place where students spend more time beyond the classroom. Its recommendations include exploring housing, academic facilities, gathering spaces and services, along with health and education partnerships, cultural programming and recreational amenities.
The panel also identified opportunities to work with the City of Henderson on amenities near campus and to improve connections between the university and surrounding neighborhoods.
“Thoughtful planning connects a university’s needs with the needs of the community around it,” said Debra March, chair of ULI Nevada and former mayor of Henderson. “These recommendations give Nevada State a starting point for exploring how its campus can grow while creating stronger connections among students, neighborhoods and the broader city.”
Planning for the desert and for the future
The recommendations call for a campus that responds to its Mojave Desert setting. Ideas include native landscaping, shaded walkways, trails and open space, as well as measures to conserve water and address extreme heat.
The panel also recommended further study of water, power, sewer and transportation needs before development moves forward. Public-private partnerships and other financing tools could be explored as part of that work.
The recommendations are a starting point for long-term planning, not approved construction projects. Nevada State will study the concepts, consult with partners and determine which ideas best serve students and the university’s future. Any proposed development would require additional review and approval through the appropriate university and Nevada System of Higher Education processes.
Read the full report here.
Review the power point here.
About Nevada State University
Nevada State University (Nevada State), an independently accredited public institution, is a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). Nevada State is located on a developing 500-acre campus in the foothills of Henderson, Nevada, and will be opening a campus in the City of North Las Vegas in the fall of 2027. Nevada State emphasizes high-quality instruction, exemplary service, engaging learning experiences, and innovation in support of Nevada’s growing workforce needs. Nevada State offers more than 65 majors and minors, as well as select graduate programs, and continues to expand its physical campus and reach across the state. Committed to fostering a personal learning environment, students are taught by faculty who serve as mentors and guides in classrooms with an average class size under 25 students. Nevada State serves more than 8,400 students and has more than 10,000 alumni. For more information, visit https://nevadastate.edu.
About ULI
The Urban Land Institute is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. It is the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts in the world. From across the fields of real estate and land use policy, our members are committed to exchange best practices and serve community needs.
About ULI Nevada
ULI Nevada exists as a resource and advocate in understanding the unique and varied components that define Nevada and it’s communities as exceptional Places. The organization leads the conversation on continuing to advance of quality of Place in our state, through capitalizing on the existing strong components and providing context, information and perspective on items absent or deficient in the advancement of Place. We aim to facilitate the development, evolution and realization of a common community vision and expression of Place that supports a high quality of life in Nevada and its communities.