CAMPUS PLANNING - Roger Williams University

2002-2003 RWU Presidential Fellowship Report: Campus Planning
Conclusion
We have attempted to establish a rational basis for understanding
the complex environment that we encounter as we go about our
daily routines. We have tried to solve large-scale problems in a
way that adds to the cohesion and coherence of our communal
fabric. We have tried to illustrate how the individual work of
architecture, when guided by a larger idea, need not be an island;
but can reinforce existing patterns and open up new vistas and
possibilities for future development. This sense of
interdependency is tangible in the inner workings of our bodies
and in the cooperative nature of so much of what we do as an
institution. A good Campus Plan provides the foundation for
this to unfold in a tangible fashion that builds on our shared
values and aspirations and meets the day-to-day needs of the
university community.
I would like nothing better than to say that we have reached the
illusive heights alluded to above; but it is a complex and
involved process. The current Master Plan document was
formulated under difficult circumstances; however it has been
instrumental in establishing a credible basis for future
negotiations. This Campus Planning Report document has the
distinct advantage of not being subject to the heat of difficult
town / gown negotiations. This is an advantage that we can
regain if we are able to formulate a comprehensive and
integrated Campus Plan that addresses the legitimate concerns of
the various constituencies involved and is strong enough to
weather the next round of negotiations intact. We would like to
think that this document, in spite of its shortcomings, would be
an important part of that process as it unfolds.
Final Review of student work
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