CARBONDALE (SIU NEWS) – Southern Illinois University Carbondale is formulating a campus master plan, which will determine how the physical campus will meet the needs for education, research and innovation over the next 20 to 30 years.
Creating a new master plan – the first one since 2006 – is part of the Imagine 2030 strategic plan and its sustainability pillar, said Susan Simmers, vice chancellor for administration and finance. Initiatives include:
- Evaluating the use of physical space and space requirements for such functions as academics and student support, research and innovation, athletics, enrollment management, fundraising, parking and public safety.
- Developing a plan to properly size the university’s physical space and reduce energy usage and other costs.
- Invest in technology infrastructure.
“The last strategic plan was created for a different generation of students and different physical and technological needs for research and creativity,” Simmers said. “We need to create a plan that will anticipate and serve the current and future needs of students, faculty and staff, and the community.”
The university has hired Cannon Design to lead the development of the plan. The firm and all its partners have extensive experience in campus master planning in higher education in Illinois and across the United States.
Over the next 12 months, Canon Design will engage with several key constituency groups representing faculty, staff, students and alumni to outline SIU Carbondale’s needs for the future. The process will have three phases:
- Discovery, which includes campus investigation and engagement.
- Development, in which professionals review, evaluate and refine campus needs.
- Delivery of details and scenarios to arrive at a final master plan for SIU Carbondale.
Specific details of the timeline will be announced as the project progresses. The plan will be submitted to the SIU Board of Trustees for approval at a later date.
“Overall, this master plan will serve as a critical road map for SIU Carbondale’s future, guiding the university toward fulfilling its long-term vision and strategic objectives,” Simmers said.
