The Future
As Bruess explains a campus master plan comes in many pieces and with several purposes, it shows the big picture of the University now and in the future. The master plan attempts to show what kinds of modifications and additions "are required to provide the kind of educational experience that students want consistent with our mission."1 The master plan comes in three parts and stems from the mission, strategic plan and goals of the university. The first being the new buildings and alterations to the physical space on campus, the second is the programmatic alignment of spaces and services, this answers the question of why a certain department is located where it is located. The final part is the infrastructure and differed maintenance of existing spaces to keep them functioning and operating.
Bruess explains that the way rooms are given purposes impacts how students learn and how administrators work, "how we shape learning environments influences how students experience their education and in fact how they learn. So for me a campus master plan has to pivot around the educational experience of students, how they learn, how faculty teach... how you design a classroom has everything to do with the type of teaching and learning."2 The master plan is the reason why our classrooms are small with furniture that can be moved to facilitate discussion. The last master plan was updated in 2011 and the university is starting the process of updating the plan this year. Creating a new master plan requires involvement from everyone in the university; students, faculty, staff, administrators. There are open meetings so that all can meet and discuss space, faculty need to be heavily involved in the creation of classrooms just as students need to be involved in residence halls. The input from students and faculty help to make sure that the building is what is really wanted and needed. Without community input the CdC would not be such a successful space that meets so many needs.
Creating spaces is no longer done overnight, careful planning is required to create a space that can benefit and serve the university. The construction of spaces requires a master plan and collaboration between departments and people. Building spaces today has changed but it still requires trailblazers to lead the process and have the vision. Our spaces into the future are secure, not because the buildings are in good condition but because our people are. No matter what happens in the future of the physical buildings the process will continue to facilitate collaboration and be centered around the mission of the university.
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1Interview with Brian Bruess,
2Ibid.
