It takes the strong dedication and knowledge of David Brahm, assistant director of facilities management, and 13 other individuals to see positive results in the landscape at the Health Science Center.
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The delicate landscape at the Health Science Center may be easy on the eyes, but it takes the strong dedication and knowledge of David Brahm, assistant director of facilities management, and 13 other individuals to carefully craft the ever-changing scenery.

Brahm grew up enjoying the outdoors and creating various landscapes in his parents’ yard. He attended Iowa State University and received both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in horticulture. It is the knowledge he learned in college and ample experience that made him the landscape artist that he is today.

“I love my job,” Brahm said. “The landscape is always changing at the Health Science Center and I love playing a role in the change.”

Seventeen years ago, the Health Science Center consisted of 100 acres and 15 full-time employees in the landscape management division. Today it consists of more than 300 acres with only 13 full-time employees, and the maintenance and operation budget has decreased 39 percent.

“Limited funds and the lack of manpower are the most challenging parts of my job,” Brahm said. “However, I am blessed with amazing workers who seem to really enjoy what they do. I know they get several compliments from individuals on campus and that’s encouraging. It’s not uncommon among my workers to have worked 10-15 years at the Health Science Center maintaining the grounds.”

Since there are only 13 people maintaining a large amount of land, Brahm said prioritizing is a vital role in his job.

“Many times we focus on the high-visibility areas more than outer lying areas,” Brahm said. “We don’t neglect other areas, but some require more maintenance than others. Since we offer interior plant and special event service, we have to prioritize that as well.”

Brahm said the secret to his landscaping is correct plant selection, mulch, and proper watering.

Brahm knows that not all plants are suitable for the South Texas climate. He carefully selects the plants that are placed on campus, paying attention to their year-round growing cycles and considering the landscape identity at each campus.

“I use several sources to select the plants we bring to campus,” Brahm said. “Everywhere I go I examine the landscape. We like each campus to have its own identity. For example, we are in the process of developing the Texas Research Park’s landscape into a Texas Hill Country theme.”

Brahm said the secret to his landscaping is correct plant selection, mulch, and proper watering. When the city begins enforcing water restrictions, the plants suffer, Brahm said. However, because they are adapted to our climate, they recover quickly when the rain returns.

“We are in the process of installing San Antonio reclaimed water for the irrigation system on our central campus,” Brahm said. “It is recycled water that is not suitable for drinking, but provides the necessities that our landscape needs. It will be extremely beneficial during times of drought, since we will not have any restrictions on the days that we can water.” Purple sprinkler heads serve as a warning that the water from them is not drinkable.

Next time you see the landscape at the Health Science Center, remember the effort and devotion it takes the landscape management division of the facilities management department.