Campus Master PlanFifteen-Year ProjectionAbris Ltd. Architects and PlannersIn the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and "it was good." Our world is stunningly beautiful and wonderfully appropriate for His people because God first carefully planned and designed every aspect. Every day, scientists continue to discover the profound principles that govern life on this planet. We do well when we understand and apply these principles in our everyday lives. For the same reasons, guided by the same spirit and principles, it is important that we carefully plan and design our city and campus environments, if they are to be beautiful and appropriate instead of hodgepodges of ad hoc development, as most are. Intermittently, over the past four years, to its credit, the College has been in the process of updating its Campus Master Plan, with the advice and assistance of ABRIS LTD, Architects and Planners. Advantageously, the individual responsible for the Master Plan of 1977 has been the lead professional in the current effort. As found from the study of 1976, the College has numerous qualities that are to be continually respected and reinforced. Scott Field is the centerpiece of a compact, pedestrian-oriented, small campus. This open space is the lungs of the College, intended as a natural setting for people, and should never be desecrated by adding buildings. By continuing to close streets and remove vehicles to the edge of campus, the principle of people first is reinforced, and the recent projects, Ganton Circle, Claussen Plaza and associated projects, demonstrate this commitment. Several occurrences in the past few months will potentially relieve enrollment pressures and have already been driving the master planning process. Land and residential properties have become available, and others are designated for acquisition over time. The Music Department potentially moving into a vacated Free Methodist church, and Art moving into a remodeled Coast to Coast Building are major steps. This would open up Ladue and Archer for remodeling for other uses. Remodeling of residence halls, and the addition of new space all contribute to the potential for growth of the College as is happening. A "Campus Master Plan" should be seen as the culmination of planning efforts to predict how growth may and should occur toward a pre-designated horizon of 5, 10, 15, or 20 years. The plan is guided by enrollment goals and pressures, as well as predicted program changes. A plan is a guide and reflects only a point in time. Campus master planning should be viewed and practiced as a continuous process, to stay abreast of development as it occurs year by year. This requires minor "course adjustments" on an annual basis. Now that the system is wholly computerized, these changes are relatively easy to document and re-issue the overall plan. Formal campus planning has three major aspects: 1. Academic Planning -- Addresses overall institutional philosophy, mission and goals, and is influenced by enrollments, growth, and change. Courses and curricula, administration, and professional staffing are part of this effort to identify needs for supportive physical facilities. This also would include needs for student living, sports and recreation, and other social needs. 2. Physical Planning -- Translates the academic plan into specific needs for new or revised classrooms, offices, and other physical facilities to support growth and change, whether additional new facilities or the remodeling of existing facilities. 3. Financial Planning -- This aspect of planning in a Christian institution with scarce resources, usually determines the pace of development. Where academic planning determines the need, and physical planning determines the solution, financial planning determines the feasibility of proceeding. Financial planning often determines priorities. As a document, the "Campus Master Plan" is a large, accurate, complex map, stored in the computer that can be plotted out at any scale, with any combination of data that may be desired. There are many layers of separate information, including such things as legal boundaries, streets, parking, walkways, topography, buildings, lighting, landscape, and separate utilities. The plan is very useful to guide any development efforts, as well as operation and maintenance. When development decisions are made, they should be within the context of the Campus Master Plan and should be guided by its principles. "Campus Design" is the means of implementing the master plan and is an urban design process. Only qualified professional urban designers should be asked to implement the master plan, which shows intended location, potential footprint, and sequence, nothing else. Thus, as wonderful and as essential as the campus master plan is, and its value must not be underestimated, it is the more detailed design process that follows which finally determines the quality of environment. Greenville College is poised to go on to the next stage of development, urban design, and then to the detailed design of each element of the campus. From,
Last updated: March
11, 2003 |