News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
At a time when many small colleges are shuttering their doors, Catawba College has taken different path.
With bold vision and strategic investment, this private liberal arts college in Salisbury, N.C. is doubling down on its identity as a national leader in environmental sustainability. Catawba has now launched the most significant capital improvement project in its history: a transformation that includes a district energy and modernization project, new and renovated residence halls, geothermal wellfields to heat and cool multiple campus buildings, an upgraded student center, and a reimagined campus experience built entirely around its sustainability mission.
And it’s not just window dressing. Catawba was the first certified institution in the Southeast to achieve full carbon neutrality—proof that it walks the talk.
“Catawba leads the way in terms of incorporating sustainability into every aspect of campus design,” said Jeff Turner, president of B&D’s higher education practice group. “Sustainability isn’t a nice-to-have. It is at the core of their decision-making framework. And it is non-negotiable as they envision the future of their campus.”
B&D’s Communications & Public Engagement team is also proud to partner with Catawba on this next chapter, helping the college underscore and amplify its sustainability-first commitment to key audiences—from prospective students to the broader higher education community. In a crowded and competitive market for students, it’s a strategy that’s both mission-aligned and market-smart. The comprehensive repositioning of the 174-year-old institution is positioning Catawba not just to survive—but to lead.
“Collaborating with Catawba to tell their story is a privilege,” said Kelly Connelly, senior manager of communications and public engagement at B&D. “They are on the cutting edge of sustainable practices, and it’s exciting to help create and elevate the conversations around the college’s impact on the future of campus sustainability.”
