Page 19 - College Planning & Management, June 2019

Facilities CAMPUS SPACES
Connecting to Campus
Thoughtfully designing the high-traffic areas that
define your campus plays a crucial role in establishing
your institution’s identity.
BY JESSICA RITTER AND LORI GARRETT
THE ADAGE that popularity is both a blessing and a curse doesn’t only apply to people. It’s also true for buildings, especially iconic facilities on college and univer- sity campuses. We all can call to mind those buildings on campus, whether historic or more modern, that help to define a school. Commonly referred to as the “front door” of some schools, these buildings play a crucial role in a college or university’s narrative.
These well-known and popular facilities bring many benefits, such as reinforcing a
school’s visual identity and brand, but they also face a unique set of challenges. These buildings are typically among the most trafficked spots on campus. Thousands
of students, staff, and visitors can leave significant wear and tear, especially if a building wasn’t designed to handle elevated levels of traffic.
Fortunately, administrators, facility managers, architects, and others have learned a great deal about how people interact with popular buildings as well as the impact high-traffic areas have on the design and long-term maintenance for these facilities. Four lessons in particular should guide colleges and universities when they consider renovating or building new high-traffic facilities.
Start With the Story
As with life, we understand the world around us through stories. These nar- ratives are communicated verbally, in images and movies, and through our built environment. Before any other consider- ations, a college or university first needs to understand its story.
• Is that the message you want to send? • How do your facilities reinforce that
desired message?
• What does your campus say about you?
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. Christopher Newport Hall at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA, is designed to visually delight first-time guests. The building contains student service areas, meeting rooms, presenta- tion venues for Admissions, and administrative offices on four floors.
JUNE 2019 / COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT 19
PHOTOS © VIRGINIA HAMRICK