V. Planning Principles

Given the program for new facilities and the assessment of existing conditions, the following planning principles were developed to describe the intention of the master plan and to guide future planning at the University. Appendix B contains a working memorandum developed during the master planning process that defines the planning issues that served as the basis for developing the planning principles. The principles are organized in the following categories: General Principles, Land Use and Facilities, Campus Environment, Open Space, Parking, and Transportation.

A. General Principles

• The MSU campus should be arranged to vigorously reinforce the vibrant synergy of academic and research intensity, aesthetic beauty and environmental responsibility valued by its faculty, students, staff and visitors.
• The campus plan should be developed to maximize its function as a living-learning resource environment, offering a broad range of experiences that are both integral to the University mission and memorable in their aesthetic and intellectual appeal.

B. Planning Principle Related to Land Use and Facilities

• The campus should be organized in logical districts determined by compatible use relationships.
• Implement compact campus development to achieve the following benefits:
  • Protect natural systems
  • Conserve land
  • Protect agricultural research land
  • Encourage social interactions and vitality
  • Encourage interdisciplinary connections
  • Reinforce ties between research and undergraduate teaching
  • Allow for flexible partnering over time on interdisciplinary projects
  • Control infrastructure costs
  • Control transportation and parking infrastructure costs
  • Enhance functional efficiencies
• Maintain existing housing areas to retain capacity and flexibility for renovation and redevelopment of campus housing.
• Protect existing agricultural research land south of Mt. Hope Road to retain the present capacity and contiguity of agricultural research land.
• Favor building reuse, renovation and refurbishing before disposal. A building’s historic significance and integrity, programmatic value, service to the University mission, and locational importance will be considered and balanced with economic factors. Consideration should be given to razing buildings when the cost of their renovations exceeds their replacement cost.
• Alterations and additions to existing facilities and removal of older structures will protect open space and preserve outdoor gathering spaces in order to enhance the experience of the campus.
• The arrangement and design of campus buildings and exterior spaces should be organized to encourage human interaction and foster a sense of shared community among the University's diverse population.
• Future planning should recognize historically significant aspects of the campus and the heritage of the campus as a park and demonstration model.
• Planning of facilities will acknowledge and reinforce that the campus is part of the larger surrounding community.

C. Planning Principles Related to Campus Environment

• Enhance the integrity of natural systems through creating and maintaining large block natural areas and improving their interconnections.
• The campus landscape plan should be developed to capitalize on opportunities for teaching, research and service.
• The environmental impacts of new construction and renovations will be minimized.
• Building design and renovations should incorporate energy saving technology to achieve prudent energy usage for heating, cooling, lighting and water usage.
• Resources should be conserved through waste reduction, waste recycling, composting programs, and by favoring products produced from recycled materials and recyclable components.
• Promote use of renewable, non-polluting resources and energy systems.
• Consider life cycle impacts of planning and design decisions.
• The requirements of the Watershed Management Plan and the University Well Head Protection Plan will be incorporated when planning for new facilities.
• Minimize negative impacts on the water quality of the Red Cedar River Watershed.

D. Planning Principles Related to Open Space

• Protect and extend the park-like character of the historic Circle Campus.
• New buildings and renovations should be designed to be architecturally compatible with the best features of existing buildings and to be harmonious with their immediate surroundings.
• Preserve flexibility in future decisions through efficient land use.
• Reinforce the University’s distinctive physical identity.
• Continue to use the campus arboretum to support teaching and outreach.
• Provide opportunities for academic and social interaction.
• Site buildings to define outdoor spaces.
• Preserve and protect existing natural areas.
• Prioritize opportunities to create new green spaces.
• Provide access to transportation systems from open spaces when and where appropriate.

E. Planning Principles Related to Parking

• Safely and efficiently meet the parking needs of faculty, staff, students and visitors.
• Aesthetically integrate parking facilities into the campus setting.
• Place greater emphasis on perimeter parking, recognizing that some central parking will always be needed.
• Reclaim surface lots for green space and future building sites when appropriate.
• Assure that the parking system remains self-supporting and generates sufficient revenue to support University parking and transportation needs.
• Relocate parking that contributes to unsafe traffic and pedestrian conditions.
• Connect campus transit system to parking.
• Manage parking to discourage illegal use.

F. Planning Principles Related to Transportation

• Provide a safe, efficient and effective transportation network, which enhances the overall quality of life on the campus.
• Establish a more pedestrian oriented character for the academic core of the campus and include the special needs of persons with disabilities.
• Reduce vehicular traffic in the academic core.
• Acknowledge the University’s integration with the regional transportation system.
• Develop a transportation system that is fiscally viable relative to capital and operating resources.
• Transportation priorities are:
  • Pedestrians
  • Bicycles and other forms of non-motorized transportation
  • Mass transit and service vehicles
  • Private vehicles
• Provide safe, dedicated pathways for bicycles.
• Use public transit to assist in accomplishing master planning objectives.
• Coordinate with Transit Provider to assure that roadway improvements compliment transit.
• Consider personal safety when developing transportation facilities.