Building for campus and community: a growing number of institutions and their surrounding communities are approaching facilities from a shared-use perspective.COME ONE, COME ALL: THAT'S THE CONCEPT behind a trend gaining momentum, as institutions of higher ed open facilities to the community. But shared use isn't just about open doors. Some IHEs are partnering with local public entities to fund, design, and operate buildings jointly. The financing piece is a major motivator. "Public bonds are not granting the enormous funding opportunities that once existed, and rising construction costs are hamstringing the ability of an institution to grow on its own," observes Shannon Rydell, a design director at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. "Often schools can get shared funding for capital expenses and sometimes even operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. ," says Joseph C. Rizzo, a principal at Hillier Architecture. Construction and operating costs operating costs npl → gastos mpl operacionales are minimized because facilities aren't duplicated on or near campus. And with facility use maximized, a building can serve "a greater number of people for the dollars expended," Rydell adds. Rizzo recognizes another reason for today's interest in shared use the opportunity to grow "smart." With buildings representing 70 percent of electricity consumption in the country and 136 tons of building-related construction and demolition debris generated annually, shared- or joint-use facilities embrace sustainability. Town/gown thoughts also come into play. These projects help build good will, so when zoning approvals and other needs arise, the college seems "like a kinder, gentler '800-pound gorilla,'" says Rizzo. Not to mention, IHEs are at their core key elements of the public realm, Rydell notes. "This makes them great candidates to achieve curricular and social agendas while fostering a strong connection to the communities that depend upon their existence." According to campus architecture experts, these facilities can work for nearly any institution type. Tom Pene, senior principal at Boora Architects, says, "The key is to find the common ground between community and academic needs." PARTNERSHIPS: PLANNING FOR SUCCESS Shared-use projects are by no means easy. Take the San Jose State University (Calif.) and San Jose Public Library's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
In planning, deal with potential issues "as much as you can before the fact rather than after the fact," advises Ruth Person, former VP for academic affairs at Angelo State University History The history of the university can be traced to 1928 when San Angelo College was established, following a municipal election held in 1926. Organized as part of the city school system, the two-year college for many years occupied a site on North Oakes Street near the (Texas), which partnered to build the university-owned, $5.5 million San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, chartered and incorporated (1870) after a decision by the Boston Athenaeum, Harvard, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to pool their collections of art objects and house them in adequate public galleries. and Education Center in 1999. Partnerships may bring negotiations regarding different construction standards, design considerations, and usage policies to the table. "A foresighted analysis of contractual obligations between the organizations is critical for smooth sailing," concurs Terry Calhoun, director of media relations at SCUP. The agreement between Nova Southeastern University History Originally named Nova University of Advanced Technology,[7] the university was chartered by the state of Florida in 1964[8][9] as a graduate institution in the physical and social sciences. (Fla.) and the Broward County Board of Commissioners for their Alvin Sherman Library The Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, is the largest library building in the state of Florida. The Alvin Sherman Library is a unique joint-use facility serving the residents of Broward County as well as NSU students, faculty, and staff members. , Research, and Information Technology Center, which opened in 2001, was 54 pages long, notes Library Director Harriett MacDougall. "It's very important that the agreement document be carefully crafted and that you stick to it." Besides the obvious question about funding, Calhoun, Tom Pene of Boora Architects, and Malcolm Holzman of Holzman Moss Architecture offer these key planning questions: * How much does the community need this type of facility? * Who gets to use the facility and at what hours? * Who will handle operations, maintenance, and other ongoing costs and responsibilities? (One partner? A third party?) * What responsibilities and rights does each party have if the relationship were to end? Is all this effort worth it? "It was one-and-a-half times the work, but there were at least one-and-a-half-plus times the benefits," says Person, now Indiana University Kokomo's chancellor. Kassing speaks about SJSU's library in terms of enriched town/gown relationships; the groups discuss other possible partnerships regularly. "We have this enormous pride in what we did together," Kassing says. And at Nova, serving the whole community has worked out even better than expected. With children, parents, students, and seniors there on any given day, says MacDougall, "it's what a library should be--everybody using the wealth of resources." CASE STUDY Riverpark art and theatre complex, Columbus State University Columbus State University is a four-year public liberal arts university located in Columbus, Georgia. The university was established and is administered by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the (Ga.) MOTIVATIONS: To create a downtown arts campus, attracting students and faculty as well as helping to revitalize downtown Columbus. Previous projects included the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts is a modern performance space in downtown Columbus, Georgia, United States. Introduction The center first opened in 2002 with the completion of Studio Theatre, a flexible black-box style experimental theatre that seats a maximum of (which houses CSU's music department), student apartments, and continuing education/outreach centers. TIMELINE: Construction of RiverPark began fall 2004; complex completed end of 2006 PROJECT COST: $35 million (about $65 million has been invested by CSU See DSU/CSU. 1. CSU - California State University. 2. CSU - Cleveland State University. 3. CSU - Channel Service Unit. in downtown Columbus in the past decade) FUNDING: Private support from capital campaign--successful in part because local arts organizations were involved in the project, rather than out promoting their own separate efforts AN INSIDE LOOK: RiverPark has two theaters; a lighting lab; a costume shop; a design studio; woodworking spaces; an art gallery; and art study, work, and display spaces. The 246,000-square-foot complex serves about 500 art and theater students and the greater community. Companies visiting the city are attracted to the arts culture, and internationally known artists and entertainers have spent time in classrooms as part of their tours. CSU President Frank Brown says, "We are getting public accolades that just send chills up my spine." CASE STUDY ATHENAEUM ath·e·nae·um also ath·e·ne·um n. 1. An institution, such as a literary club or scientific academy, for the promotion of learning. 2. A place, such as a library, where printed materials are available for reading. , Goucher College (Md.) MOTIVATIONS: Create a library that's more than just a place for quiet reading and reflection, as well as offer spaces (some open 24/7) for small and larger groups to meet. Situate sit·u·ate tr.v. sit·u·at·ed, sit·u·at·ing, sit·u·ates 1. To place in a certain spot or position; locate. 2. To place under particular circumstances or in a given condition. adj. the building at the campus center and welcome community use. TIMELINE: Construction to start spring 2007; expected completion May 2009 PROJECT COST: $46 million (estimate) FUNDING: Philanthropic donations, state and federal dollars AN INSIDE LOOK: Goucher events are already free and open to the public, but the Athenaeum will allow for more speeches, forums, concerts, and theater productions involving the community, says President Sanford "Sandy" Unger, adding that the building will "fit in but stand out" on campus. Since the immediate vicinity has no visitor parking, the building has "multiple 'fronts' that face not only the campus's main pedestrian axis but also the approach from parking and the campus loop road," notes Ken Kraus of the Hiller Architecture project team. Inside, the Athenaeums layout is such that library users won't be interrupted by gatherings taking place in the community open forum area. OTHERS IN ON THE TREND... * City of Mesa (Ariz.) $92 million Mesa Arts Center The Mesa Arts Center is a 200,000+ square-foot arts complex located in downtown Mesa, Arizona, in the United States. Completed in 2005, the $94.5 million facility is the largest arts center in the state of Arizona. (studio building operated by Mesa Community College Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona, is the largest of the 10 community colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Enrollment in the spring of 2002 topped 24,000 full- and part-time students. ) * George Mason University Named after American revolutionary, patriot and founding father George Mason, the university was founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1957 and became an independent institution in 1972. (Va.), City of Manassas, and Prince William County $23 million Community Performing Arts Center A performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is a multi-use performance space that can be adapted for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre. * Northwestern Oklahoma State University Northwestern Oklahoma State University, also known as NWOSU, is a university in Alva, Oklahoma, with satellite campuses in Enid and Woodward. Northwestern is a state university that offers both bachelor's and master's degrees. $3.1 million J.R. Holder Wellness Center (available for public use) * Seton Hill University Seton Hill University is a small Catholic liberal arts university in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Formerly a women's college, it became a coeducational university in 2002. The school was founded in 1883 by the Sisters of Charity. (Pa.) and City of Greensburg $21 million (projected) University Center for the Performing Arts SHARED-USE POTENTIAL: PROJECT IDEAS * Continuing/executive education center * Fine/performing arts center * Fitness/wellness center * Library * Museum * Outdoor recreation space * Parking structure/lot * Recreation center * Sports arena/stadium |
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