Memorial Trees
The UC Berkeley campus has a distinctive tree canopy that reflects the contribution of memorial trees planted in remembrance of UC Berkeley faculty, students, staff, and alumni. The memorial tree program provides beauty and a place where families and friends can return to honor a loved one who has passed, and helps the university maintain the overall campus tree canopy's health, image, and biodiversity.
Campus trees are planted and maintained by the university, with tree species and locations selected by the Campus Landscape Architect. Existing campus trees that are in good health may be dedicated as memorial trees; memorial trees are selected from the existing campus tree canopy by the Campus Landscape Architect, in consultation with the donor. Memorial trees are dedicated with a gift of at least $25,000 as of 2026, which helps the university maintain the overall campus tree canopy in good health. Memorial trees will be identified with a 3"x5" memorial plaque, noting the tree species, year of dedication, and name of the individual to whom the tree is dedicated. Memorial tree costs are updated periodically to reflect current costs.
Memorial trees are maintained with the rest of the campus landscape, and are dedicated for a period of 30 years or the lifetime of the tree, whichever is shorter. If a memorial tree is damaged beyond repair or dies within 30 years of planting it will be replaced in kind. If this occurs beyond 30 years it will be removed and will not necessarily be replaced, depending on the needs of the campus tree canopy
Dedicated Benches
UC Berkeley encourages donations to enhance our campus landscape. Memorial benches are dedicated in remembrance of UC Berkeley faculty, staff, students, staff, and alumni who have passed. Individual benches may be dedicated for gifts of at least $25,000. There are many dedicated benches set in natural areas of the UC Berkeley campus, enjoyed by students, faculty, and visitors alike.
Memorial bench installations are at the discretion of the university in consultation with the Campus Architect. Memorial benches should generally be located adjacent to pedestrian pathways to meet accessibility and equity requirements. Locations of existing memorial benches may be changed in the future as campus conditions change.
Memorial benches are dedicated with a gift of at least $25,000 as of 2026 (inclusive of bench purchase, shipping, assembly, site installation, plaque fabrication and installation, and maintenance). Memorial bench costs are updated periodically to reflect current costs. The campus's selected memorial bench is the Medway 6-foot bench by Harlow & MacGregor
Campus Landscape Improvements
UC Berkeley in 2026 developed a Landscape Climate Adaptation Plan, which aligns with the Campus Master Plan to guide landscape improvements and campus development. These plans identify landscape improvement areas, some of which remain as potential philanthropic gift projects.
Sponsors for major landscape projects may include individuals or groups and could be undertaken in association with building renovations. Costs for these more comprehensive renovations vary widely, from $100,000 to several million. Some of the areas remaining include:
- Natural areas: Strawberry Creek, Observatory Hill, and Founders Rock
- Outdoor glades: West Oval, Campanile, Faculty, Wheeler and Grinnell
- The classical core: Mining Circle, Oppenheimer Way, West Circle, Campanile Way, Sather Road and Sproul Plaza
- Outdoor plazas: Wheeler – Dwinelle, Arts Quad, and University Walk
- Campus edges: Hearst, Oxford and Bancroft
Since 2005, major landscape renovations have occurred at Sproul Plaza, Campanile Esplanade, Mining Circle, Lower Sproul, College Plaza, Piedmont Ave and Gayley Road, Observatory Hill, the memorial Cherry Trees at West Circle, and several Strawberry Creek restorations. Many of these were carried out thanks to generous donations and some – like the Cherry Tree memorial - in recognition of members of the UC Berkeley community.
Trees, benches, or complete projects can also be funded through tax-deductible philanthropic gifts.