Campus Master Plan Report

This section details the Master Plan Report. Use the links on the left to navigate to the various subsections of the Master Plan Report, or use the link at the bottom of the page to open the full Master Plan Report .pdf file in a new window. A .pdf version of the Forward by the President printed on this page can also be found below.

Forward by the President

From the time of its founding in 1855, the quality and appearance of the Michigan State University campus has been a high priority. The beautiful, park-like landscape is considered by many to be among the finest in the country. As one surveys the university campus, the vision and principles of those who came before us is apparent. This is particularly evident in the north campus circle, perhaps one of the most beautiful and memorable aspects of the campus environment.

Since that time and through subsequent planning efforts the campus has continued to grow and develop. The current planning endeavor sought to address not only campus development over the next twenty years but to continue and expand upon the very best traditions of the past.

This master plan, 2020 Vision: A Community Concept for the MSU Campus, was developed with the recognition that the campus, in its entirety, is more than the mere functional arrangement of buildings, roads, walkways, parking lots and landscapes. It has the potential to define a collective experience of place and community, which is an essential part of the teaching and learning experience for students, faculty, and staff. At its best, the campus can be a rich expression of tradition and history, a fundamental resource to the current educational enterprise, and an invaluable reference point in helping to define the future. Perhaps more than any other single aspect of the University, the physical environment has the power to embody and express the purpose and mission of Michigan State University.

Presented to and approved by the Board of Trustees on December 7, 2001, the master plan provides a robust framework for addressing the growth and development of the campus over the next twenty years. Among its significant features, the plan provides the University with a blueprint for systematically accommodating a potential growth in facilities, ensures for the careful and planned use of our finite land resources, extends the park-like quality of the campus landscape more than any planning exercise in the past 100 years, enhances the pedestrian environment while simultaneously addressing parking and transit needs, and sets in motion a plan that provides for future development that is environmentally sensitive.

The Master Plan is the first step in identifying a comprehensive approach to future campus improvements. Carrying out this plan will necessarily occur in phases over time. A hallmark of the planning process was its highly participatory focus. Accordingly, it will require continuing discussion within the campus community and further investigation of many aspects of the plan to ensure that the campus planning principles are attained. We are all challenged by the vision of this master plan and welcome the guidance it will provide for the future of Michigan State University.



M. Peter McPherson
President
Michigan State University