If UCCS is to grow, it must expand from its current 80-acre original parcel, Gary Reynolds, executive director, Facilities Services, told a group of university and community leaders Thursday afternoon.
Planning that expansion in a way that preserves the university’s character and respects campus land history and structure is the goal of the campus facilities master plan, Reynolds told members of the University Club. Reynolds was the featured speaker for the group’s quarterly luncheon.
“Our goal is to respect the responsible capacity of the land – not just how much stuff we can cram in,” Reynolds said of the facilities planning effort. “But at some point, we’ve got to down the hill, which presents some very unique challenges.”
While the plan is not complete, Reynolds outlined broad principles that will likely make their way into a final document expected this spring. In the near term, expansion of the current campus east toward University Hall may be a logical move. UCCS has about 10 acres of undeveloped property and has worked to acquire additional privately-owned parcels in the area. Expanding eastward will likely allow the campus to grow to little less than 15,000 students while preserving current campus values such as 10 minutes between classes and maintaining a small campus feel, Reynolds said.
Expanding to the north and west means construction along North Nevada Avenue. That area is likely best suited for UCCS enterprises that will have substantial community visitors or are the “public face” for UCCS. Last week, the first UCCS building on North Nevada, the Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences, was announced. Other ideas for the area include a performing arts center as well as expanded athletic venues.
“Imagine having dinner at a restaurant at University Village and walking through the pedestrian underpass to attend a theater event at UCCS or going to a ball game and then heading to University Village Colorado for a beer” Reynolds said. “That’s the future of the North Nevada corridor and it’s exciting.”
Reynolds touched briefly on the challenges faced by campus development including campus topography, unique soil structures, archaeological sites, parking, transporting students uphill from the northern reaches, and the effect of online coursework. But he was upbeat about the challenges and opportunities ahead.
“We have a unique opportunity to develop a campus that is different from any other in the United States or, for that matter, the world,” Reynolds said.
— Photo by Tom Hutton
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