Union University has hired an architectural firm from Saint Louis, Missouri, to create a Campus Master Plan composed of campus improvement suggestions to be developed over the next 20 years.
On Feb. 11, 2019, a team from the architectural firm Hastings + Chivetta began their research with students into creating Union University’s twenty year Master Plan. After initially meeting with the Master Plan Steering Committee, a team of representatives from across campus that is tasked with helping the consultants understand Union’s values, culture and community while also representing the current and future needs across campus, the team ignited the process by meeting throughout the day with groups of students from various organizations across campus to obtain student input.
Around 6 p.m. on Feb. 11, the final group, a team composed of student representatives from the Student Government Association and the Student Leadership and Engagement office, sat around two tables, awaiting the firm to arrive in Coburn Dining Hall, a relaxed location for the meeting.
This set the mood for when the four architects from Hastings + Chivetta arrived. Hastings + Chivetta’s mission to “create unique places that shape a campus’ life, advance its mission and influence its evolution,” was the focal point for the evening and was intertwined into everything they communicated. From the beginning, the group was inviting and engaging with students, placing value on student comments and concerns.
Carl Chivetta, president of Hastings + Chivetta, excitingly opened up their final meeting of the day by explaining what the Campus Master Plan is.
“We like to think about the Master Plan as a roadmap,” said Chivetta. “We like to view it from different perspectives.”
The perspectives, Chivetta mentioned, are broken down into three parts that he likes to refer to as the 1,000, 100 and 10 perspectives. The 1000 perspective is broad and includes things like roadways, parking and the overall map. The next level, the 100 level, is composed of individual departments, other areas in campus buildings and classroom utilization. The final perspective is the 10 perspective and is made up of initial impressions and the campus atmosphere.
This idea of perspectives was used in 1998 when Hastings + Chivetta created the previous Campus Master Plan that is still in effect. The original plan consisted of 48 suggested projects. Of those, 22 have been completed to date. Some of the improvements that have been completed include the Great Lawn area from the Bell Tower to the bypass and buildings including Jennings Hall, Providence Hall and White Hall.
Some projects that were not completed include a fine arts center that was to be placed beside White Hall, an update to the chapel and multiple lakes to be constructed throughout campus.
“Why were the projects never completed?” said William Martin, the sophomore class vice president. “These things seem to be a real need and a priority to students.”
“We can draw more in a morning than a campus can afford in a lifetime,” Chivetta said. “I would love to drive a Lamborghini, but it comes down to, ‘Can I afford one?’”
Chivetta emphasized throughout the night that the research begins with students because the firm wants to prioritize each student’s experience. The firm prioritizes the student suggestions in the appropriate order so that when the proper funding is allotted, value is placed on these projects first.
He opened up the discussion by questioning about certain needs that need to be met. He asked if there was enough collaborative space on campus where people interact socially and studiously and what specific improvements the students wanted to see happen.
Some key and high priority improvements students mentioned include more exterior lighting throughout campus, a fine arts building and arena, continuous aesthetic across campus, a 24 hour social and study space, updated classroom furniture for the Penick Academic Complex and intramural fields and gyms.
In addition to student input, the firm is also interested in the needs and wants of the faculty, staff and professors.
“I hope the new Master Plan will help us create internal and external spaces that inspire great creativity, research, collaboration, learning and community that are memorable and motivational for a lifetime,” said Ashley Blair, associate professor of communication arts and member of the Campus Master Plan Steering Committee. “As a faculty representative, my focus is on innovative academic workspaces within the context of the overall Union experience.”
To receive additional feedback, the committee is going to send out an online survey for all undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff and employees to fill out on Assessment Day on Feb. 20, 2019. The firm plans to finalize and complete the Campus Master Plan by the end of August.
“I have been doing this for 30 years,” said Chivetta. “With each campus project, I love showing the value that students add. They truly have the opportunity to leave their mark.”
Students, along with faculty and staff, can look forward to how the future-directed Campus Master Plan will unfold over the next 20 years.
Illustration by Tamara Friesen
