Last night at Planning 301, Vice President for Planning and Facilities Robin Morey revisited the university’s planning principles, which guide planning and decision-making for current projects and future plans for campus. The planning principles reflect the university’s vision to create physical spaces that support future academic programs and a vibrant living and learning environment on the Main Campus.
The university evaluates plans and projects against these core principles to determine the best projects for the future of campus and to guide the development of the master plan.
The core planning principles include:
- Introduce new, high-quality green spaces and expand existing ones
- Organize strategic growth consistent with campus districts / typology
- Continue to develop a more residential living and learning community
- Create a pedestrian-friendly campus
- Improve transportation modes and means into campus
- Resolve issue of the use of Kober-Cogan site and surrounding grounds, consistent with the University and MedStar’s planning principles
- Address deferred infrastructure maintenance needs
- Establish an effective, efficient clinical footprint to address Georgetown’s academic and medical mission
PRINCIPLES IN ACTION
The Former Jesuit Residence project is an example of the core planning principles in action.
The image above shows a planned courtyard outside the former Jesuit Residence. A former parking lot, the new courtyard will provide new green space on campus, one of the core planning principles. In addition to the courtyard, the university plans to restrict vehicle traffic on Library Walk past the Gervase Building, except in limited cases, creating a more pedestrian friendly walkway in front of the building.
The building itself will create a brand new residential community and provide new student space, enhancing student life, another core principles. Prior to the renovation, the Former Jesuit Residence had $17 million in deferred maintenance needs, and the project will resolve all of those needs, satisfying another principle to address deferred maintenance.
Finally, the introduction of a new residential community in the Former Jesuit Residence strengthens the residential community along Library Walk and enlivens a historic building in the heart of campus, consistent with the principle of campus districts and typologies.
The master planning principles shaped the planning and design for the Former Jesuit Residence, creating new campus space that strengthens the student experience and the living and learning environment on the Main Campus.
We will share more information from Planning 301, including the presentation, in the coming days and weeks.