Section B: Master Plan form

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Generally

This Master Plan is the result of ongoing dialogue between the University and the design professionals, both seeking to establish a concept of institution and a place that can grow, mature, and endure. This process articulates a series of seemingly independent requirements, which, through a final interleaving produce a resulting governing structure which is unique to this environment and place, and flexible in nature in recognition of the evolutionary character of the academic disciplines. With the identified planning goals in mind, the detailed evaluation of the site has, to a significant degree, established the overall patterns of utilisation defined within the Master Plan.

The planning principles which satisfied these goals most directly were recognised as those of a linear open-ended order, with the long axis of the structure aligned perpendicular to the north-east. This linear structure provides for a pattern of development that ‘ties' to the single large stand of trees near the entry location at the north-west, and ‘terminates' at the lake at the south-east. This establishes a clearly useful orientation within the campus, and one with a highly memorable character.

Long-term growth

It is recognised that the linear plan may not be capable of sustaining the very long term growth of the institution. A variety of additional forms of compatible growth and change were studied, and the Master Plan has incorporated the pattern found to be most supportive of the originating form and capable of being responsive to the earliest evaluation criteria. Two ‘wings' are identified for long-term development within the original pedestrian/service access grid allowing for ease of access and maintenance of the north-east orientation. It is recommended, however, that the central campus be reasonably complete, prior to the development of these lateral sites, so as not to dilute the heart of campus activity. Notwithstanding the need and desire to create a central focus for the University, the campus life will be enriched by several dispersed places of localised activity, particularly food services, and places for small group gatherings.

Linear form

The linear form is created (in a manner similar to that of Thomas Jefferson's plan for the University of Virginia ) as a series of buildings arranged about a linear central common open, green-space, each building having its principal entrance facing this space. Other academic buildings are located on spines following the cross-axis, while less academic buildings may be dispersed about the balance of the campus. Additionally each building is required to have an arcade within the facade, fronting onto the central space where appropriate to provide protection from rain and sun and assuring a lively campus centre and heart of activity throughout the day, and throughout the seasons.

The dimension between buildings across the linear space has been established as a distance within which one can recognise a friend's face, thereby ensuring a human scale. Building heights are generally limited to create a non-monumental scale, one that recognises the value of the landscape, both within and without the central campus areas, and that ensures natural air movements and sunlight to every building. Building height variations are more generally allowed at sites not facing the central square.