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Creating distinctive environments is about investing in facilities that will take an institution to a higher level, not just provide more space.
When linked to a compelling vision, a solid strategic plan and distinctive programs, campus master plans and new facilities are powerful tools for enhancing quality and competitive advantage. However, most often these plans do not address key questions:
| • | “Where do we need to go, overall, to realize our mission and be more competitive?” |
| • | “Are there areas we should change our programs or pedagogy so that our facilities are cutting edge and contributing to academic quality and distinction?” |
| • | “What are the national models for the academic programs and spaces we are trying to create?” |
| • | “What are potential, new revenue sources to fund our projects?” |
| • | “Could we partner with community groups to address mutual interests?” |
Master Development Planning
STRATUS has a new way of approaching campus master planning.
The traditional formulaic approach to campus planning concentrates on the physical elements of the campus.
STRATUS Master Development Planning is a unique process that blends strategic planning and positioning with campus master planning. This results in a strategic plan—academic programs, research, student life; administrative support; community relations; and institutional advancement—and a physical plan to support the goals and objectives in the strategic plan.
A STRATUS Master Development Plan has the following elements to drive the future growth of the institution:
| • | Institutional Position |
| • | Strategic Plan |
| • | Best Practices Research |
| • | Master Campus Plan: Facilities, Landscape, Utilities |
| • | Design and Maintenance Standards |
| • | Implementation Plan |
| • | Project Priorities and Budgets |
| • | Funding and Partnership Strategies |
| • | Case Statement |
| • | Promotional Audio-Visual Presentation |
Planning A Distinctive Facility
Very often an architect is hired prematurely and a campus misses the most vital steps in planning a new facility:
| • | “Horizon thinking” among faculty and others on how external forces and trends impact the kind of facility that is needed |
| • | Studying the facilities of peers and competitors |
| • | Identifying best practices and site visits to them |
| • | Creating a compelling vision |
| • | Developing program-driven space planning principles to guide the entire project |
The STRATUS process begins with the Strategic Research and Opportunity Assessment, followed by a sharpening of the strategic planning and positioning elements that are related to the new facility.
We follow this by working with campus stakeholders to create a distinctive facility plan that includes the following elements:
| • | Guiding Principles |
| • | Interdisciplinary Linkages |
| • | Best Practices |
| • | Capital Planning Strategy |
| • | Funding Strategy |
| • | Case Statement |
| • | Promotional Audio-Visual Presentation |
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