Creating a sense of identity.

Designing a university campus is a formidable undertaking under the best of circumstances. It introduces many of the same problems that must be addressed in creating a small city. Those problems are often compounded when a landscape master plan (LMP) is being developed for the expansion of an existing campus, as future design options are limited by present conditions.

Essentially, an LMP is a guide for developing and preserving a particular area over a specified period of time. In the case of a university campus, the goal is to establish a blueprint for change while maintaining the institution's sense of place and its identity as a site devoted to academic excellence. If the institution lacks a distinct sense of identity, a good LMP can help create one.

The need for a long-range plan may be spurred by the imperatives of growth or by changing conditions that have rendered facilities obsolete. Outdoor spaces may have deteriorated and become unattractive, parking areas may need to be upgraded,traffic may need to be rerouted. Often, the need to remedy specific conditions prompts the leadership of a university to take a long-range look and consider what other improvements might be required in the future. A forward-looking plan can help attract new faculty and students and invite contributions from alumni to fund improvements.

Creating an LMP usually begins with a site analysis and an inventory of existing conditions. These include an evaluation of campus assets and liabilities, defining future needs, establishing long- and short-term objectives, and proposing a timetable for completion of each phase of the program. Among individual plans to be proposed will be: landscaping, transportation and parking, building and development, utilities and infrastructure, preservation and conservation, growth management, and funding.

As a consequence, it is essential that input for the master plan be obtained from the administration, faculty, students, and the at-large public. A survey tailored specifically to user groups can provide an important guide and head off potential problems.

Although an LMP usually focuses on a long-range goal, such as a 10- or 15-year projection, it almost always is set to be carried out in phases; for example, a new library to be built in five years, a gymnasium in seven. It is difficult to project growth and its attendant needs more than 10 years in advance. For that reason, a master plan may have more to do with past growth than with the outlook for the future.

If expansion is dictated by overcrowding, the problem may be solved by renting or renovating an existing building. If it is driven by a decision to admit more students or a wish to enlarge the curriculum, the projection of future growth is likely to be less precise. In either event, physical factors go a long way in determining how the master plan will be structured.

The location of the campus is of critical importance. Urban institutions present a different set of problems from those situated in the suburbs. Since a metropolitan campus is tighter the first priority is to maintain existing open space and create as much new space as possible. Scale is critical. Space between new and old buildings must be used to unite the campus and sustain the cohesive look that gives it its identity. Landscaping and interior plazas can be used to link one building to another. Materials and colors should be chosen so that the overall appearance is coherent even if the new buildings are different from the old.

Transportation is a key issue whether the campus is located within a major metropolitan area or in a distant suburb. As most people reach urban campuses by public transportation, the LMP should look to place new facilities as close to subway or bus lines as possible. Problems with vehicular traffic are likely to be on-campus rather than in surrounding neighborhoods.

Pedestrian movement can be the most pressing traffic problem in an urban setting. It is easier to control vehicular traffic than on-foot circulation, since pedestrians are inclined to ignore rules that limit their movement. One way to safeguard pedestrians on campus is the creation of a distinct separation between vehicular lanes and pedestrian pathways. But the most significant safety factor is the location of parking facilities.

Satellite parking areas minimize traffic hazards, since vehicles are parked some distance from the core of the campus. It also allows for an interior, pedestrian-oriented core that is free of vehicular conflicts and creates larger areas for gathering and more open space. The result is a campus that offers a more collegial environment. However, where satellite parking is used, the trip from the car to the classroom can be excessively long. In some instances it might be necessary to employ a second transportation system, such as a shuttle bus, to reach the campus.

Although an existing campus can present serious constraints to an expansion project, it offers advantages as well. Experience teaches some important lessons, and on a university campus it gives an indication of what has been working and what has not. The key to developing an LMP for the future is to build on elements that have been successful and alter those that have not.

It is important to observe how people are currently moving through and utilizing the spaces on the existing campus. Understanding the inclinations of those who use the campus helps in determining the future layout of paths and linkages. A sound plan addresses the issue of how people want to circulate instead of forcing them to take circuitous paths and make unwieldy connections. The objective of a university is to provide an academic environment that promotes excellence in research, scholarship, and artistic creativity. When physical expansion is necessary, a coherent master plan can help it achieve those goals.