On Thursday, the University and master planning firm NBBJ held the final open forum in a series of presentations and forums presenting a draft of the Comprehensive and Strategic Master Plan. This forum, which was open to University faculty, staff and the general public, was held to receive feedback on the draft and make revisions as it heads into the final stages.
“As we progress toward the finish line on master planning, this week’s series of engagements with the campus community are primarily about refining the draft master plan,” said Roger Husser, assistant vice president of planning, design and construction.
The primary concerns raised at the forum centered on parking, traffic and housing. One of the main features of the Master Plan is that much of the parking in the core of campus will be moved out to the periphery of campus. One attendee questioned the convenience of this plan, saying it would be burdensome to have to walk from the edge of campus to the core, especially when the weather is not ideal.
Kim Way, principal and director of urban planning and design, said transit system improvement is part of the plan, and would help alleviate some of the concerns over being able to access campus from the remote parking lots. The plan also calls for parking structures to be built in the areas of campus that focus is shifting to.
Another attendee raised concerns that moving parking out to the periphery would discourage local students from commuting to campus. Way said the plan was not to discourage commuters, but to encourage them to use alternative forms of transport on campus. Megha Sinha, senior associate of urban planning and design said 80 to 85 percent of students wanted improved bike paths around campus.
Another concern raised was alleviating traffic. Way said the emphasis on public and alternative transit would help with the traffic. He also said there were plans to close Nicholson Extension off from traffic and redesign the South Parking Lot to make it much easier to access.
A third concern raised was with the plan to add more student housing. One attendee asked if the University would even be able to fill these new rooms with the expansion of local housing developments. Roger Husser said there is currently more demand for on campus housing than the University can provide.
The plan is also intended to aid in reducing deferred maintenance costs. The demolition of the Middleton Library and Lockett Hall will save the University an estimated $136 million. When asked about the current allocation of deferred maintenance, Husser said that the priority will be the Academic Core of campus.
“A significant portion of funding must go into the existing buildings,” Husser said.
The next step for the Master Plan is prioritization of the development projects, Way said. The presentation, as well as more details on the Masterplan can be found at http://www.masterplanlsu.com.

Gallery • 1 Photos

Kim Nguyen

Students listen to the NBBJ team's presentation of the refined draft of the comprehensive and strategic master plan in the Student Union on Feb. 15, 2017.