Campus Master Planning

Work is underway to update the 1996 University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus Master Plan.

The Campus Master Plan establishes the framework for the long term evolution of the University campus. It sets a vision for the future building upon the existing physical attributes of the campus. It ensures that the unique qualities of the campus will be enhanced. And it ensures that targeted areas will evolve to contribute to the long term vision of the campus. In many ways, the Campus Master Plan is similar to city's comprehensive plan. The Campus Master Plan is intended to be the basis on which the University will make its future land use and development decisions.

• 1996 Campus Master Plan
• Updating the Plan
• Issue Based Work Teams
• Process Steps and Timetable

The 1996 Campus Master Plan

In September 1996, the Board of Regents approved A Livable Campus: University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus Master Plan, and directed that it be used to guide the future development of the campus. The policy components of 1996 Master Plan consist of guiding principles, structure plan elements and associated policies, and precinct plans.

A series of Guiding Principles shape the 1996 Plan that express these values and amplify the Regents' principles for campus master planning. The Guiding Principles establish the direction for future planning and design decisions that will cumulatively create a livable campus. The underlying guiding principles are:

• Instill a genuine sense of community
• Identify, preserve and enhance natural features
• Create a cohesive system of open spaces
• Achieve a balanced system for movement and access
• Promote and optimization and rationalization of campus facilities
• Increase the mix of uses on the campus, including housing
• Develop connections
• Foster accessibility, and a sense of safety and security
• Promote architectural integrity
• Preserve historic buildings and landscapes
• Facilitate and ensure healthy collaborative ventures

The plan for the Twin Cities campus was developed by a Master Planning Advisory Committee under the auspices of the University of Minnesota Master Planning Office. The Master Planning Advisory Committee consisted of 23 faculty, staff, and external partners. The advisory committee was supported by a consultant team consisting of Berridge Lewinberg Greenberg Dark Gabor Limited; Close Landscape Architecture Inc., Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin Lopez Rinehart; and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects.

Updating the Plan

The Campus Master Plan is now more than 10 years old. Because conditions and circumstances are constantly changing, planning efforts must continuously be re-evaluated and adjusted.

In 2004, a faculty/staff work group convened by Vice President O’Brien reviewed the current Master Plan and presented their findings to the President as to the process for updating the Master Plan, the components of the Master Plan, and how the Plan should be used in the future to inform decision-making. The 2004 planning work group recommended that the next phase of master planning for the University of Minnesota be an update, rather than a complete reworking, of the 1996 plan. The overall foundation is sound, and the update will align and link operations with the Master Planning principles.

The following key recommendations were included in the work group's report.

• Align and integrate the Master Plan with University core processes such as strategic positioning, academic planning and funding
• Take full advantage of the major initiatives scheduled for the next decade
• Focus on “growing a campus” rather than building buildings
• Instill the principles of sustainability, so that the new plan leaves the campus better for future students, staff, and faculty
• Optimize the distinction of being the largest research University that bridges the Mississippi River
• Increase ownership of the Master Plan by the University community, and ensure broad and meaningful consultation with key constituencies.

Master Plan Update Steering Commitee

• Judith Martin, Co-Chair
• Kathleen O’Brien, Co-Chair
• Sheila Ards
• Terry Bock
• Beverly Durgan
• Missy Gettel
• Sarah Greening
• Bob Kvavik
• Orlyn Miller
• Lance Neckar
• Jerry Rinehart
• Becky Yust
• Kristi Kremers
• Leslie Krueger, Staff
• Work Team chairs

Process Steps and Timetable

This table provides a starting point for some of the key process steps and timelines. The co-chairs of the work teams will work with the professional staff to develop a detailed work plan for their teams.

Issue Based Work Teams

The Steering Committee organized into five issue based Work Teams.

Viewing Documents

To view some documents on this page you must have Acrobat Reader. If you don't already have Acrobat Reader it's available for free. Click on the "Get Acrobat Reader" button to download it now.