UIC Campus Master Plan Town Hall Meeting
Date: March 19, 2009 Location: SSB Conference Rooms B&C 1. Introductory Remarks Lon Kaufman offered opening remarks and provided an overview for the Master Plan. He stated that the Master Plan would, for example, analyze where future facilities might be placed or which buildings should be removed. He mentioned it might address other issues such as mixed-use buildings, exterior signage, or ways to connect the various sides of campus. He discussed the importance of building interiors since much of the campus experience during the winter months occurs indoors. He said this is particularly important on the West Side of campus where users can travel between many buildings through the tunnel system without ever venturing outdoors. Jim Foerster emphasized that the main purpose for the Town Hall Meeting was to receive feedback from the campus community. He stated that the campus community can also reach out to the Planning Team via the website (http://www.uic.edu/master_plan) and blog (http://blog.masterplanning.uic.edu). He briefly discussed what a master plan is, describing it as a document that is a vision for the future. At times it can be a blueprint, such as for the original Walter Netsch design for the campus, and at other times it can be a framework for growth, such as for the evolution of a more mature campus. He provided an overview of the current Master Planning effort and stated that the last master plan was completed about 20 years ago. Since master plans are typically updated every ten to twenty years, it is appropriate to reflect on the previous plan and rethink the future of our campus. He discussed the composition of the Planning Team and mentioned that the Team is reaching out to many campus constituencies to seek their inputs. He mentioned that the Master Planning consultants will be analyzing ways to improve and enhance the campus that do not require large amounts of capital investment and preserve sites for future building opportunities when funding becomes available. He mentioned that future building opportunities on the West Side of campus might include a shared teaching and learning facility, an expansion of the medical center, or an expansion of the College of Pharmacy Building. He described how the Master Plan might recommend some street closures on the West Side of campus in an effort to enhance the pedestrian environment. Building opportunities on the East Side of campus might include a shared office and classroom facility or a new facility for the natural sciences and engineering. Additionally, the Master Plan might recommend ways to improve navigation on the East Side of campus since the overhead walkways have been removed and pedestrian circulation patterns have changed. 2. Question and Answer Session David Taeyaerts engaged the group in a question and answer session in an effort to receive responses to four questions: • • • What are the best features of UIC’s physical environment? What physical aspects are unappealing? What issues should be addressed in plan?
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How could the campus be changed to enhance experiences of students, faculty, staff, patients, visitors, etc?
He mentioned that although the Master Plan will focus on larger exterior issues, any comments on interior issues would be welcomed, since they might involve concerns that the campus can tackle separately from, or in collaboration with, the Master Plan. 3. Topics Discussed and Feedback Received A variety of questions were asked and a variety of topics were discussed during the Town Hall meeting. The discussion is summarized below in a categorical, rather than chronological, order.
Transportation/Parking The Shuttle bus system is inefficient and would benefit from a bus-tracking system similar to that used by the CTA. The university should develop more transportation options before constructing more parking garages. For example, shower facilities could be added to promote bicycle-riding. Many barriers exist not only between the various parts of campus, but also between UIC and surrounding communities such as the West Loop or South Loop. Ways to enhance the connectivity around UIC might include widened sidewalks, more bike lanes, and greener/friendlier thoroughfares. A comment was made that the Roosevelt Road connection between UIC and the South Loop is not pedestrian-friendly. Many universities place parking structures near the periphery of the campus, but at UIC it appears parking is placed wherever there is space available. The university should make an effort to thoughtfully push parking to the campus periphery. University operations were hindered when the CTA discontinued Blue-Line service between the UIC/Halsted and Polk Street stations. This service allowed university personnel to travel between the two sides of campus using the “L”. The University of Oregon has a bicycle co-op program that provides many services to bike-riders. Through this program bikers can maintain and repair their bicycles, borrow locks, and securely store their bikes. UIC should adopt a similar program to demonstrate its seriousness towards promoting alternate modes of transportation. A comment was made in response to a portion of Appendix A of the Master Planning Vision statement that states: The plan should reflect the need to provide sufficient accessible and affordable vehicular parking for students, faculty, staff and visitors who cannot or choose not to use public transportation. Preferred bicycle rack locations should also be identified.
The comment made was that this statement is not a good idea, because providing affordable parking below market rates encourages drivers to not use public transportation. People think of convenience and cost when deciding whether to drive to campus, so making parking less desirable could encourage the use of alternate modes of transportation. The campus currently has vast amounts of surface parking lots that are dilapidated, ugly, and underutilized. The University of Chicago discontinued its campus bus service and relied on the CTA for its transportation needs. As a result, bus service became more convenient and reliable. Could we do the same? Marshfield Avenue could be closed and a cul-de-sac could be installed in an effort to enhance the eastwest pedestrian walkway and leverage this beautiful outdoor space. Exterior Signage/Way-finding Many users have a difficult time navigating the campus because the exterior signage is very inadequate. It is often very challenging to distinguish the Lecture Center Buildings from each other. The campus map in the Administrative Office Building (AOB) is outdated. The map incorrectly lists the Marshfield Avenue Building (MAB) as “housing.” This comment brought to discussion the idea that maps and building directories need to be properly maintained throughout the campus and within buildings. Science and Engineering Laboratories (SEL) is a mammoth building that could benefit from more descriptive names and better signage. The campus needs to leverage urban-scale way-finding techniques such as those used in the Greek Town area on north Halsted Street. Pergolas and other types of Greek architecture are placed at the corners of Greek Town to help create subtle, but distinct boundaries and gateways. The university could use similar techniques in an attempt to identify and unify the campus. UIC should make an effort to develop an attractive and consistent brand and logo that can be used throughout the campus, especially on exterior signs. This would improve the university’s image and improve way-finding. When west-bound travelers on Harrison Street approach Ashland Avenue they immediately are aware of Rush University’s presence. How can we improve the design of our campus in a similar way to better leverage our extensive edges and many gateways and more effectively communicate our image to the surrounding community? Campus Life Student services should be more de-centralized in an effort to reach out to student in all parts of campus. The Colleges of Urban Planning and Public Affairs and Architecture and the Arts are isolated from campus services due to their location north of the Eisenhower Expressway. Could UIC partner with the local community to provide services for students?
University Village on South Campus has a nice college atmosphere that should be replicated elsewhere. The perception is that the storefronts and ground-level retail activities enliven the area. A comment was made that Taylor Street and South Campus are the two best locations on campus but that the area between the two destinations is very dreary and lifeless. The connection between the two parts of campus, especially along Halsted Street, should be enhanced. How can the campus bring the vitality of the Taylor Street atmosphere on to the campus? There should be an effort to analyze the occupancy of the campus during various times of the day and year in an effort to plan for periods of highest occupancy. For example, in the context of gardening, the university would benefit if the peak blooming of trees and landscapes occurred at a time when the campus was most populated. In response, a comment was made that Urban Planning students have previously attempted to analyze campus occupancy using information available from the Office of Classroom Scheduling, but that this analysis was very basic. A more thorough analysis would be very interesting. An observation was made that there is no central campus function that serves to activate public spaces. A reference was made to a Society of College and University Planning (SCUP) webcast titled “Placemaking on Campuses: Creating Destinations That Build Community” that focused on ways to create vibrant gathering spaces. The campus should ensure it provides basic facilities common to most other universities. Specifically, the campus needs an auditorium with proper acoustics and seating for 700 – 800 people that could be used for concerts. The campus needs more coffee shops like the Port Center Café in University Hall (UH). Outdoor performing/interacting areas should be placed throughout campus to provide entertainment and also engage the surrounding community. Examples mentioned include outdoor basketball courts and skateboarding opportunities. The campus could construct an outdoor area to host multiple, impromptu recreational activities. A portion of this area could be enclosed in glass so that activities could continue during the winter months. Building Exteriors The campus is aesthetically bland, sterile and often “communist-looking”. The university should make an effort to soften buildings around the central parts of campus, especially University Hall. The campus has too much concrete, does not reflect the vitality of Chicago, and lacks “wow moments”. Recent efforts to remodel classroom buildings such as Grant and Lincoln Hall are wonderful and should be continued. Building Interiors Many areas in Student Center East (SCE), including The Inner Circle, are dark, dreary and undesirable. The campus should try to make these spaces look more like The East Terrace (Winter Garden), a space
in SCE that is well-lit and friendly. In response, the comment was made that though the Master Planning consultants might not analyze the inside of SCE, the campus might do so separately. A portion of SCE is dedicated to displays hi-lighting achievements of UIC alums. These displays are inspiring and should be replicated in other areas of the campus. Perhaps the campus could consider a sculpture garden honoring past alums. Outdoors – Green Spaces and Cityscapes Landscaping needs to be considered in its winter context since most campus activity occurs during the winter months. Trees and bushes can often be arranged in a variety of ways that present attractive landscapes in the winter as well as the summer. The geothermal field adjacent to University Hall needs to be landscaped. In response, a comment was made from the audience that the site is still under construction, prompting further discussion that the campus needs to better communicate information about projects on campus. The flowering trees on the East Side of campus are really nice. Additionally, the Chicago Circle Memorial Grove is a beautiful place that needs attention and better access. The plaza of the UIC forum needs improvement and would be heavily used by students if it were greener. The green space by the Medical Center Administration Building (MCA) is a very nice space to relax and has a traditional campus atmosphere. The desire for green spaces should be balanced with a desire for cityscapes. Many people do not like to sit on green spaces. Instead, they prefer comfortable hardscapes/cityscapes that allow them to view the green spaces. The Behavioral Sciences Building (BSB) has second-story decks that provide wonderful views of the campus but need to be enhanced. Students are often seen carrying chairs up on to the decks. Many of our green spaces have mounds and hills making it difficult to host activities such as Frisbeethrowing. Could the campus benefit from more flat spaces? In response, the group was encouraged to think about the characteristics of traditional university “quads” that cause people to linger and sit on the ground. Harrison Field was mentioned as a good place to relax and throw a Frisbee when the weather is nice. Students enjoy working outside but are unable to do so because of a lack of wireless connectivity. The campus should create wireless “hot spots” on campus and advertise them properly with signs. Green spaces throughout the campus are not centrally located. There are no “see and be seen” spaces such as “The Quad” at UIUC. The green spaces UIC has do not draw people in and seem to be pushed out to various parts of the campus that students don’t normally travel through.
People tend to congregate near the Lecture Centers, an area the student population often refers to as “The Quad”. This area is constructed with too much concrete, lacks greenery, and is not very inviting. What is the future of the abandoned Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) site adjacent to University Hall? In response, a comment was made that this site appears inactive and the university hopes to pursue acquisition of this site, though the site may be in need of environmental remediation. The campus needs more seating areas collocated with other services and activities, such as bicycle repair shops and food-service facilities. Seating should be available both indoors and outdoors in order to be utilized during all seasons. The campus needs public art displays where students can walk around. Gallery 400 is an art display space in Art & Design Hall, but the space is isolated from the rest of the campus north of the Eisenhower Expressway. Water features should be created in prominent gathering spaces. University of Michigan was cited as a cold-climate location that utilizes water features. It was noted that the university has two major water features and that students often gather near them, even during the cold, winter months when the water is turned off. Biology classes could participate in improving green spaces by labeling trees throughout the campus. The AOB garden is nice, but it is very hot in the summer. Many of our outdoor spaces lack adequate shade and become very hot in the summer. The campus could benefit from more trees, umbrellas, and awnings. Alumni House/Visitor Center Arlene Norsym hosted a discussion to solicit thoughts on the proposed Alumni House and Visitor Center. The background statement of the draft program statement for the Alumni House/Visitor Center states: The idea of a permanent facility on the UIC campus which alumni can call their own has been discussed for many years. Large numbers of alumni from all three U of I campuses reside within a 50 mile radius of the campus and a variety of uses for such a structure have been proposed. In 1998, the UIC campus took some initial steps to make this idea a reality by distributing an RFP to architecture and planning firms. Seed monies were provided by the campus and the UIAA, as well as by some individual alumni. The momentum for this idea was slowed during the UIC campus core renovations, changes in administration and during the time the Alice Campbell Alumni Center on the Urbana Campus was being built. Now, in spite of the current economic situation, and as part of the on-going Master Plan discussions at UIC it is important that this idea be advanced once again to ensure its inclusion in these discussions. To that end, this document identifying the Justification and Initial Program Statement has been created.
A member of the audience asked if the Alumni House could be integrated with a commuter center or perhaps affordable accommodations for visitors. In response, a comment was made that a commuter center is being considered separate of the Alumni House/Visitor Center. A comment was made that the Chicago Circle Center originally housed services such as nap rooms and music lounges that catered to commuter students. An additional comment was made that a small amount of accommodation space is made available to visitors in the James J. Stukel Towers. Other Comments or Questions A question was posed inquiring about the current situation of the space adjacent to the Student Services Building (SSB) that once housed the Jewel grocery store. In response, a comment was made that this area is now the Innovation Center, housing a joint effort between the Colleges of Architecture and the Arts, Business, and Engineering. A question was posed inquiring whether the consultants leading the Master Plan could provide examples of previous designs, including “before and after” photographs. In response, a comment was made that examples of designs could be found on the consultants’ websites: http://www.boothhansen.com/ http://www.hargreaves.com/ Closing Comments David Taeyaerts thanked the group for all of the feedback received and closed the discussions by reminding the audience of upcoming Master Planning events. CUPPA students will be hosting the Master Planning Open House in Student Center East and Student Center West in early April (http://www.engageuic.com) • • Wednesday, April 1: Student Center East, Montgomery Ward Lounge, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Wednesday, April 8: Student Center West, 2nd Floor, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The Master Planning Team will be hosting another series of Town Hall Meetings in April to present the Phase I report from the consultants: • • Monday, April 13: MBRB Auditorium, 1:30 – 3:30 PM Tuesday, April 14: SSB Conference Rooms B & C, 9:30 – 11:30 AM