“We are located in a world-class, unique setting that our forebears committed to being, literally, in this place. That is the driving force in how we go forward.” SPENCER COURT
“We are located in a world-class, unique setting that our forebears committed to being, literally, in this place. That is the driving force in how we go forward,” he says. “It is the threshold experience between plateau and river valley we want to be, and since we are here, we should capitalize on that because in the physical sense it’s one of our most significant differentiators.”
based,” says Court. “The master plan has tried to focus on creating a compact, pedestrian-oriented, connected campus that responds to external factors such as weather or the opportunity for memorable views and seriously considers how people move through it.”
The University Campus Master Plan is just that – a plan. At this point, campus planners have not While the prairie land surrounding the initiated detailed design studies, but most of the features will likely University is vast, a key UCMP goal be developed over time. The is to create a campus with synergy, recommendations in the UCMP, ease of access and more importantly, however, are critical for the logical pedestrian circulation. University to reach its strategic “There’s a point where everyone goals, says Chris Eagan, director who arrives here by transit, bicycle of Facilities. or automobile becomes a pedestrian, “The UCMP follows the institution’s and in the master plan the campus nucleus is predominantly pedestrian- strategic planning. It allows the
18
creation of a common vision of what space, building and landscape places look like to fulfill our strategic goals,” he says. “The UCMP is a broad vision that will be accomplished incrementally through individual capital projects. These projects have urgent and important needs that must be subservient to the institutional requirements outlined in the master plan. It will give the structure and guidance of university planners to all those who design and implement the plan for years to come.” After the UCMP is formally ratified in December 2012, a public open house celebrating the new plan and its document release will be held early in the new year. According to Court, the new UCMP offers many advantages as the
s am | s o u t h e r n A l b e r t a M ag az i n e | U n i v e r s i t y o f Le t h b r i d g e
University looks to the future. “Overall, it’s addressing original concepts that the institution has already put substantial resources and value into,” he says. “Those early ideas are treasured fidelities – concepts we shouldn’t turn our backs on. If we’ve learned anything, we’ve learned that they are important and they still apply going forward.” ... For more information on the UCMP, please visit: www.ulethbridge.ca/masterplan