The LSU main campus occupies a 650-acre (2.6-km²) plateau on the banks of the Mississippi River; overall, LSU is located on 2,000 acres (8.1 km&sp2;) of land in the southern part
of Baton Rouge. The campus boasts more than 250 principal buildings. Many of the buildings are built in Italian Renaissance style, which is marked by red pantile roofs, overhanging eaves,
and honey-colored stucco. Thomas
Gaines's
The Campus as a Work of Art praises LSU's landscaping as
"a botanical joy" in its listing among the 20 best campuses in America .
The live oak trees on campus have been valued at $36 million. Through the LSU
Foundation's "Endow an Oak" program, individuals or groups are able to endow live oaks across campus.