Talking Stick - May/June 2011 - 23

to both living and learning. These two campuses successfully integrated five basic smart-growth principles: intensify density, strengthen connections, define open spaces, enable ecologies, and mix uses.

Intensify Density
Both projects embraced the need for housing as an opportunity to bring density and spatial definition to parts of their campuses that have been characterized by sprawl with no real sense of a cohesive place. “With only 2,000 students living on that campus, it lacked the critical mass necessary to create an engaged student life experience for students. In addition, the university was struggling with a high demand for on-campus housing, and we were forced to rent hotel rooms off campus to meet student demand,” remarks Greg Blimling, vice president of student affairs at Rutgers, with regard to the Livingston campus. At Rutgers, three new buildings, with approximately 500 beds in each, will work together to form an urban street wall that defines the campus edge and introduces a new mixeduse plaza that will be bordered by a new business school and hotel. Two arterial university streets intersect at this plaza. The notion of a street being the organizing element of a plan has rarely been utilized effectively on college or university campuses. While the quad is a common feature of many campuses, new construction normally occurs on the edge of campus, where land for development is available. By defining new streets and designing buildings that engage those streets in an open manner, vibrancy is created for a richer and more pedestrianoriented experience. Montclair State takes its cues from the classic hilltop village. Extreme grade changes throughout the campus have led to many disconnected buildings and

a challenging pedestrian experience. As a result, the strategy here was to embrace these grade changes by designing two buildings, each with two wings placed to work with the site and linked by a dynamic hub of social and academic common spaces. These, combined with an integrated dining hall and adjacent athletic facility, will create a true village from what have been massive parking lots. “Our goal was to design a project that was not only attractive on its own, but also added to the existing campus context in a logical and meaningful manner. We were determined to use this project to help inform the direction and location of possible future projects as well as create a development that unified this previously ‘back yard’ portion of the campus into a pleasant place to be as you transition from the perimeter of campus into the academic core,” explains Bruce McKee, executive vice president of urban and campus development with Capstone Development Corp. and whose initial vision played a large role in the final design.

from inside to outside and from building to building. Since connectivity has a major visual aspect, buildings must be linked through visual axes, physical gateways, and shared green spaces. Their placement can provide powerful and symbolic connections to iconic campus buildings or vistas via view corridors. Building placement can also strengthen residential communities; buildings in close proximity can encourage interaction and socialization. At Rutgers, major two-story archways allow passage through the “street wall” and align with primary pedestrian paths that lead directly on axis to the building entrances, thus allowing students to see, experience, and socialize in the courtyards and associated outdoor spaces before entering.

Define Open Spaces
Consideration of master plan goals is critical in a project’s definition of its open spaces. To determine utilization of these spaces and their respective size requirements, input from residence life staff is critical. Giving meaningful definition to open spaces in student housing communities provides a major design opportunity.
MAY + JUNE 2011

Strengthen Connections
Campuses are built around strong connections. Connectivity refers to the ease of movement and to sightlines

Talking Stick - May/June 2011

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