  |
 |
Master Plan in the WorksA campus development assessment commissioned by the College has identified a need for various physical area changes that include additional space for administrative offices and academic programs, a field house, and student housing. Three alternatives for future campus land use and development were proposed by Sasaki Associates, a Boston-based consulting firm, during a series of campus sessions in September. Each proposal included increased space as mentioned above, as well as other land use recommendations on such things as open space, parking facilities, and traffic patterns. "We have been working with Sasaki Associates since January to establish a plan for campus development that is consistent with the institutional plan, which calls for moderate growth in the student population over the next several years," says Tom Salm, vice president for business and administrative affairs. "To ensure that the College continues to provide the highest quality education and other services to our students, we need to both add space and reconfigure some of our existing facilities." The planners hope to solidify a plan that will bring a better sense of "community" to the College, take advantage of the natural environment, and create new usable open spaces intended to promote interaction among students and faculty. After receiving further input from the entire campus, Sasaki hopes to present a final plan to the board of trustees at its winter session. A gradual expansion of 600,000 to 800,000 square feet --- about 30 to 40 percent of the campus’s current size --- is planned. This expansion includes plans to increase student housing, starting immediately. Within the next year or two, the College hopes to build or lease residential housing to accommodate between 600 and 800 more students. Financing for the construction or lease has not yet been secured, according to Salm. The board is expected to adopt a final plan by its May meeting.
|
|
A. Ozolins, Ithaca College Office of Publications, 21. Mar. 2002