Dallas College North Lake Campus Station: The Tree of Learning The mesquite tree is the unifying theme at Dallas College North Lake Campus Station. This humble prairie tree - nearly ubiquitous throughout Irving before widespread development - still flourishes throughout the campus. The tree's distinctive leaf appears both on the columns and windscreens. Mesquite tree leaves adorn station columns and windscreens at Dallas College North Lake Campus Station. "The mesquite leaf naturally droops from its twig, so the motif is also a nod to the ancient hanging gardens - which inspired North Lake College's original architecture," station artist Chris Fulmer said. A plaza between the station and parking lot features a philosopher's garden inspired by Plato, the great thinker who challenged and shaped young minds. Its spiraling pathway of decomposed granite, representing intellectual growth, coils outward through the greenery. Additionally, the design reflects the architecture of the campus by using dark brick and metal accents that complement the materials of the adjacent library and other buildings nearby.