ÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Comprehensive Master Plan
In March of 2016, ÃÛèÖÊÓƵ updated its comprehensive campus master planning. This effort exists to guide the University in translating its strategic goals and objectives into a physical plan that identifies where the University is focusing its resources to meet present and future demands on facilities.
The Board of Trustees approved the Master Plan on March 11th, 2016.
Comprehensive Master Plan Overview
The Comprehensive Master Plan 2016 is guided by the University Strategic Plan, the Four Fundamentals. It is a roadmap that provides a long-term vision balanced with what is achievable to guide day-to-day decisions for the next ten years of development on the campus. It is an update to the 2006 Campus Master Plan and reflects a comprehensive view for the campus. It integrates previous planning efforts such as the Housing Master Plan, current planning efforts such as the Utility Master Plan and Campus Wayfinding and provides framework for future project development.
The Comprehensive Master Plan characterizes defining elements of each green as it exists today, identifies key issues, outlines strategies for the future, and envisions key projects. Additionally, University Planning (UP) periodically reassesses individual campus green district plans as key assumptions and projects evolve. While each green is distinctive, it is essential that they remain interconnected with a system of pedestrian, bicycle, and transit connections that supports the overall campus layout of quads, courts, walks, and streets.
UP assists the growth of the greens through planning of renewal, refinement, and enhancement projects that strengthens their shared and unique components. Those shared components that best define the greens include a strong physical identity, a mix of active uses, and organization of facilities around a defined open space. Where a green may be lacking in a component area, UP assists development that re-envisions the green, strengthens its framework, while achieving the overall goal of creating a more cohesive and connected campus.
Guidelines for Campus Planning
Our campus comprehensive master plan provides an integrated framework to guide the long-range physical development of ÃÛèÖÊÓƵ over a time frame spanning thirty to fifty years. Driven by academic priorities, the master plan provides a set of guidelines for decision making related to the locations of the university's research, teaching, and residential programs. It also provides a campus-wide perspective for developing ÃÛèÖÊÓƵ's capital plans to ensure fiscal responsibility. While the master plan provides the long-range guide for the campuses, implementation of everyday decision making begins first with appreciating ÃÛèÖÊÓƵ's strategic priorities:
- Inspired Teaching & Research
- Innovative Academic Programs
- Exemplary Student Support Services
- Integrative Co-curricular Activities
Campus Planning Principles
In addition to the University's strategic priorities, the planning principles that University Planning utilizes also guides the overall direction of campus development as well as helps define our values. Our planning principles are crafted to clearly communicate the intent of the comprehensive master plan.
These principles include:
- A Distinctive Residential University Experience
- Enhance OHIO's distinctive physical environment and strengthen connections to its natural setting, City of Athens and southeast Ohio, and 200 years of campus history.
- Stewardship Of Assets
- Support OHIO’s commitment to sustainability and Smart Growth by responsibly renewing, using and leveraging our existing built and natural resources
- A Community Of Learners
- Support a transformative living and learning environment including flexible, technology-enabled and collaborative spaces for teaching, research, outreach and innovation.
- A Welcoming & User Friendly Campus
- Make our campus engaging, accessible and safe to a diverse and inclusive campus community and visitors.
- Support Future Evolution Of Campus Needs
- Create flexible plans that will meet our future needs through integrating functions, supporting partnerships, smart utilization and agile implementation.