Project Vision This Campus Landscape Master Plan provides a road map for the university to de- velop a strong ‘sense of place’ that students, faculty, and staff identify with, while projecting a clear and uniquely vibrant image of the institution. The plan organizes the campus to provide a green, protected and contiguous campus core surrounded by academic buildings with roads and parking moved to the perimeter of the site. It provides for varied modes of transportation while creating an environment where the pedestrian is privileged, the built environment is accentuated, public art is inte- grated, infrastructure is respected, and the landscape is rich, varied, and maintain- able, meeting the University’s goals for energy use and sustainability. Design Principles • Build on the character of the historic campus and reinforce those areas with a stronger focus, better connections, and more outdoor opportunities.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s original success as a small state teacher’s college with a mission to train the future educators of this mostly rural, Great Plains state has led to its current status as a popular and high quality institution providing critical educational training and opportunities to people from all over the world. The campus’ natural setting in the Platte River Valley, with its thriving riparian habitats that annually attract an abundance of waterfowl and its historic location at the convergence of famous trade and migration routes, distinguishes Kearney as a unique and desirable destination. The sense of protection, comfort, and humanity provided by the cultural landscape of UNK and the City of Kearney is also powerfully attractive amidst the seemingly endless, yet inspiringly beauti- ful, plains of surrounding prairie. This landscape master plan seeks to capitalize on these inherent environmental and cultural attributes and to develop the UNK campus landscape to capture the essence of its purpose, history, and surroundings. Human Experience A comprehensive campus landscape planning process has been undertaken to uncover the issues, identify the opportunities, and to recommend changes that will improve the experiences of all who come to UNK. A visitor’s first impression, a student’s lasting memories, a professor’s understanding, a neighbor’s feeling, an employee’s personal view; these are the experiences that will be influenced by this plan. The purpose of the campus landscape master plan is to make the University’s physical presence more welcoming, distinguished, comfortable, attractive, func- tional, and sustainable and to organize the use of campus land over time so that the principles of the master plan are fulfilled. The Challenge The University of Nebraska at Kearney is a special place with a noble mission, distinctive character, rich history, and comfortable setting. UNK’s physical and cultural resource assets include its historic buildings, arboretum of mature trees, inviting green spaces, complementary surroundings, and ample room to grow. The campus is composed of a series of distinct ‘places’, the Northeast Village, 26th Street Mall, Founders Quadrangle, and West Park are among them. These places are important to the University’s character. Their diversity in both use and ap- pearance is an asset, the goal is to improve each, create more, and to link them all through a comprehensive system of green spaces and pathways that will be embraced by academic, administrative, and residential buildings and unified with a consistent approach to landscape design. Issues with the current campus include the east/west split created by the Cushing Coliseum and the Tail Race Canal, the disconnection between quadrangles and green spaces, roads and parking that dominate portions of the campus core, the isolation of the west end of campus, green spaces that do not accommodate campus activities, and a preponderance of vehicular and pedestrian conflicts. Students and faculty use the campus landscape to access building and parking destinations and, to a lesser extent, as an outdoor learning and social environment. This plan proposes changes to provide more op- portunities for outdoor learning and social interaction, informal recreation, public events, and university ceremonies. Implementation of this plan will expand the use of the campus by students, faculty, and the community by its creation of more useable outdoor places and spaces. The plan’s intent is to preserve and enhance UNK’s assets and to create a cohesive network of spaces that are united by a land- scape composed of consistent features and attributes.
• Develop a new memorable arrival experience and create a consistent and attrac - tive image statement about the campus.
Founder’s Quadrangle
• Signature, interconnected green spaces should form the heart of the campus and be useable destinations. Roads and parking should be moved to the perimeter of campus, parking garages should be added to achieve plan principles.
• Make walking the preferred mode of travel on campus, privilege pedestrians over motorists. Reduce pedestrian and vehicular conflicts. Make the campus bicycle- friendly.
• Improve the quality of the landscape with more useable spaces, a clear hierarchy of pedestrian routes, bicycle trails and facilities, and upgraded planting design and maintenance.
• Make building entrance spaces into informal destinations for outdoor interaction.
• Define the campus edge with uniquely UNK landscape, gateways, and multi- modal accommodations.
Frank House
• Accent the key views within campus to develop identification and character.
• Develop a public art program that celebrates Nebraska Art and is an extension of the Museum Of Nebraska Art (MONA.)
• Employ sustainability goals with new development and incorporate environmen - tally sustainable materials and strategies.
• Enhance campus-wide accessibility for the disabled.
• Improve the perception of campus safety.
• Improve the landscape details to provide a consistent and high quality image.
Thomas Hall
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Chroma Design Inc.
University of Nebraska - Kearney Campus Landscape Master Plan
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