Campus Master Plan Presentations Are Scheduled

Students, faculty, and staff will get the chance to view three proposed alternatives for future campus land use and development. Sasaki Associates, a Boston-based consulting firm that has been helping the College fashion a facilities master plan, will present the three proposals during a series of public sessions September 18–19. The primary components of the development include new academic, administrative, and residential facilities, as well as a field house.

"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. "In order 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."

With input provided by members of the campus community in sessions held last spring and in meetings with the College’s Facilities Planning Committee, the consultants created three alternatives, which were presented to the Ithaca College Board of Trustees at a special meeting held in August. All three proposals include increased space for academic programs, expanded facilities for student services and for administrative offices, additional student housing, and the field house.

Sasaki Associates has produced the alternatives based on three themes: "Districts," "Main Street," and "Ithaca Quads." Each theme includes elements intended to bring a better sense of "community" to the many components that make up the College, taking advantage of the natural environment and creating new open spaces. Each plan would also involve realigning campus roadways and relocating parking lots.

Representatives from Sasaki Associates will present the proposals, which include detailed drawings, at each of four public sessions. They will also then be available, along with College officials, to answer any questions. All sessions will be held in the Emerson Suites in Phillips Hall.

"We are encouraging everyone to attend one of these sessions and to provide feedback," says Salm. "This is not a one-way presentation --- we will be taking into account comments from students, faculty, and staff in determining a final plan."

The consultants will be meeting with President’s Council and the Facilities Planning Committee before the open sessions and again afterward, to discuss comments received from the campus community. The results will be reported to the board of trustees at its October meeting, with another round of open meetings to be scheduled later this semester to refine and select a final plan. The board is expected to adopt the final plan at either its February or May 2002 meeting.