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