Interoffice Communication Date: August 8, 2016 To: The President and Board of Trustees From: Pamela J. Benoit, Executive Vice President and Provost Deborah J. Shaffer, Vice President for Finance and Administration, CFO and Treasurer Re: Park Place Planning Strategy The Park Place Planning Strategy is a planning process the University will engage in to find the highest and best use of space needs that will promote and support student activities in the center of campus. Increases in student pedestrian patterns observed over the past ten years at Park Place present an opportunity to improve not only open spaces in the campus center, but also improve the efficiency of space usage in facilities that front the boulevard. These observations have been supported by the recent Comprehensive Master Plan 2016 effort, which envisions the Park Place corridor as a center of student activity and programmatic space. The University is committed to engaging in a process with faculty, staff, and students to prioritize interior and exterior programmatic needs and develop a strategy with the City to implement on the goal of creating a student commons corridor. Background • Park Place and several utilities are owned and maintained by the City of Athens. • The Baker University Center was completed in 2006, replacing the former Baker Center that was located along Union Street, which is now the home of the Scripps Center for Communication. • Relocation of Baker University Center, including the construction of an escalator system that connects lower areas of campus to College Green and Court Street, moved pedestrian volumes from Union Street to Park Place, significantly increasing the numbers of students moving east and west along the boulevard as well as north and south between Baker and Court Street. • As part of the Comprehensive Master Plan 2016 process, the University explored conceptual elements along Park Place that will improve student safety, activate the space for programmatic and recreation needs, and improve space usage for those facilities fronting the boulevard. • To encourage vitality throughout College Green, the Comprehensive Master Plan 2016 recommends a partnership with the City of Athens for a Park Place renovation that • emphasizes expanding outdoor activity and improving the safety of key pedestrian crossings between Baker University Center and Alden Library. The City of Athens and community were engaged throughout the Master Plan process. The University has not engaged in any detailed studies of Park Place and how it may be adapted for improved student and community outdoor uses as well as what synergies are available with nearby facilities. University staff will engage with the faculty, staff, and students as well as the City Council, City Administration and community to evaluate ideas and solicit feedback on enhancing Park Place as part of developing a recommendation for the Board of Trustees to consider in 2017. 1 PARK PLACE PLANNING STRATEGY Tab 2 AGENDA • Background • CMP Recommendations • Opportunities • Objectives • Strategy • Working Structure • Next Steps 3 BACKGROUND Baker University Center (BUC) • Completed in 2006, the BUC changed pedestrian flow in the center of campus • Significant numbers of pedestrians east & west along Park Place as well as north & south from the BUC along Court Street Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP) • CMP 2016 observed that Park Place is a hub of pedestrian activity at the crossroads of the BUC, Alden Library, and other major pedestrian routes • Vitality can be encouraged throughout College Green by partnering with the City of Athens to renovate Park Place 4 CMP 2016 RECOMMENDATIONS • Make Park Place as pedestrian oriented as possible • Partner with the City to assess vehicular circulation needs • Improve pedestrian safety • Encourage vitality in College Green • Expand outdoor activity with student- • Prioritize the space as a hub for centric spaces student activity amenities 5 SPACE OPPORTUNITIES Facilities with Set Programs • 35 Park Place • Copeland Hall • Gordy Hall • Scripps Hall • Walter International Center Facilities with opportunities to expand student program needs: • 29 Park Place & Carriage House • Alden Library • Baker University Center • Oasis Lot Facility Opportunities: • • • • 31 Court Street Crewson House Lindley Hall Chubb Hall 6 PROJECT OBJECTIVES • Develop a hub for activity to accommodate student uses and amenities • Activate space for programmatic needs Outdoor seating and shade structures and space for recreation Repurpose of select facilities fronting Park Place • Pedestrian safety Limit vehicular access Provide for active uses 7 PARK PLACE STRATEGY: Planning Steps SEPT OCT NOV 2017 IDENTIFY • Establish working group • Principles and objectives defined • Communication plan in place DEFINE & ASSESS • Review of existing conditions • Campus-wide poll on program need opportunities ENVISION & TEST • Prioritize program needs • Review and test ideas • Campus & Community workshops FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS • Draft Plan • Public Forum • Request for Approval BoT Update DEC JAN MAR 2018 FEB BoT Update APR BoT Update 8 Working Structure BOARD OF TRUSTEES Athens City Council PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL PROJECT CO-CHAIRS Appointed by President VP for Student Affairs Jason Pina University Planner Shawna Bolin WORKING GROUP Members Appointed by President Working Group Representation: • Campus: Students, Faculty, Staff, Administration • City of Athens • Community 9 Next Steps • Establish the Working Group • Communicate general strategy plan to the campus • Engage with City of Athens
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