List of Potential Campus Planning Projects and Initiatives
The following list of projects and initiatives emerged from over 95 meetings with faculty, staff, students, Board members, and Wooster community representatives. Dober,Lidsky,Mathey (DLM) tried (but was not always successful) to keep the list to items on a campus planning level and not include projects or initiatives that were at the operational level or specific building design (Galpin ADA, for example).
There is no document that justifies why any item should be on the list. DLM developed the list through review of the “findings” and multiple meetings and multiple discussions with multiple constituencies.
During all the presentations to the Working Committee, the Executive Committee (President & Cabinet), and the various Board committees (Campus Stewardship, Student Development, full Board), DLM found that there seemed to be consensus around this list.
DLM has grouped the projects and initiatives into three categories: Major New Projects, Incremental Improvements, and College Enhancements. These categories are subjective, as is the placement of projects into the categories.
Major New Projects (Listed alphabetically)
- Lowry Center – Dining and Student Life
- Mateer Hall Renovation/Sciences at Wooster
- Natatorium/PEC improvements (Gym Floor, etc.)
- Student Housing (New)
- Student Housing (Renovations)
Incremental Improvements (Listed alphabetically)
- Galpin Hall and Accessibility
- Incremental Academic Improvements (classrooms, studios, small group collaboration space)
- Incremental Department Growth
- Library – CoRE, EPAC Renovations
- McGaw Chapel (Renovate or Demolish)
- Power Plant Conversion
- Sustainability
- Technology Capable and New Pedagogy Friendly Teaching Spaces
College Enhancements (Listed alphabetically)
- ADA Compliance
- Additional Parking
- Campus Signage (wayfinding)
- College/Community Initiatives
- Enhance Campus Landscaping
- Gasche Street Closing (long term)
- Golf Course (Maintain or Close)
- Outdoor Classroom/Seminar
- Outdoor Informal Gathering Spaces
- Outdoor Storage (for Fields and General Grounds Care)
- Relocate, Improve Outdoor Play Fields
- Tennis Courts Location
- Wayfaring, Pedestrian Walkways
I really appreciate the efforts to understand and consider students perspectives on these plans. I would like to emphasize the importance of replacing the coal plant with more efficient and cleaner energy. With the new and quickly growing environmental studies department at Wooster and with the recent improvements in campus sustainability, the student body is becoming more interested in and passionate about environmental issues. We learn about the energy crisis, about global climate change, and the negative environmental and health impacts of burning coal; we read about communities that are paying the price of this consumption; and yet we are burning coal right on our own campus to power our daily lives. If the Wooster mission is to create “leaders of character and influence in an interdependent global community” then we need to start right here and fix our own problems so that we can set a good example and be the leaders of global stewardship that this institution prepares us to be.
I also second the request for more accessible greenspace! I absolutely love Wooster’s campus and the one aspect that I feel is lacking is a place to retreat, even just slightly, into nature. Planting trees and shrubs with a simple trail in the space near Wagner or on the unused parts of the golf course would be much appreciated.
Finally I want to be sure that the campus addresses the issues of ADA compliance because all students and faculty need to be able to have equal access to resources on campus.
thank you!
I hope that Lowry improvements remains high on the list. Program enhancements should address meeting rooms, especially for groups of 50-150; informal hangout space for students; more small dining arrangements; program space for performances, speakers, “fairs”, panels; multi-purpose space. Infrastructure needs include a passenger elevator, repairs to the freight elevator, customer parking, storage, kitchen equipment, and replacement of mechanical systems.
I also wish that we can address accessibility and sustainability.
Virginia Rich ’14 (via e-mail to Ellen Falduto)
… I really appreciate that you are asking for student input about facility planning for the future and I had one idea that I wanted to make certain was brought to your attention. I believe that updating Wishart Hall would be a wise improvement. The speech and hearing clinic, the Theatre, and Lean Lecture Hall (which hosts some very important events with esteemed guests) all bring a lot of traffic into Wishart, and it is the most outdated academic building on Campus. The classrooms aesthetically look like they are stuck in the 70’s with terrible brownish yellow carpeting and orange desks which are very distracting to students. A lot of the technology in the classrooms is outdated as well, and not cohesive from classroom to classroom which is a problem because it is difficult for the professors to transition and has led to a lot of wasted class time. Additionally, the lounge in Wishart is probably one of the most used academic student lounges on campus and the furniture in it is very old and not very functional. I am not requesting a construction overhaul, just some redecorating which would not be very expensive yet would make a huge difference for the students who take classes in the building every day. And, because of the traffic in Wishart, it would also improve how Wooster is seen to the community, to prospective students, and to visiting lecturers. Please consider my idea as I think it would be a worthwhile investment.
Thank you,
Virginia Rich
Emily Graham says (via e-mail to Ellen Falduto)
I’m treasurer of WOODs (Wooster’s Outdoors Club), and we are currently petitioning the school to build a climbing wall on campus. Through the Student Government Association we have created a survey to poll students. We are still encouraging students to complete the survey, and so far there have been 336 replies.
The following is an analysis of the current results:
83% have climbed before, and 93% of the people who never had said they wanted to learn 93% supported the school building a climbing wall on campus 69% said they would use it more than once a month 42% said they would use it weekly or more 40% said they would join a climbing team that would compete against other schools
I strongly encourage the advising committee to add a climbing wall to their list of projects for the College in the next five years.
Sincerely,
Emily Graham ’12
Wooster has made some tremendous strides recently to green our campus and operations (e.g., the solar roof on the Scot Center, energy efficiency upgrades in academic buildings) and these accomplishments should be celebrated. I hope that this trend will continue in the future and, to my mind, the biggest target has got to be phasing out the coal plant. It’s remarkable to stare from Bealle Ave. at the wonderful 21st century technology in the solar roof on the Scot Center with the dirty 19th century technology looming right behind it. I would encourage the campus planners to put the phasing out of the coal plant high on their agenda and to also investigate creative alternative energy solutions (e.g., a biodigester) that can minimize the use of other fossil fuels to meet our energy needs.
Usable, convenient greenspace isn’t abundant on our campus. Moving the athletic fields to the golf course would create space in proximity to the dorms (Wagner, Compton, Babcock).
The Soccer and Baseball fields should be moved creating greenspace from the Wooster Inn to the dorms. The Baseball parking lot needs to have walking paths from it to the Scot Center and PEC, to make that a viable parking option again. A tennis court complex could also be re-located to the Golf Course by the Wooster Inn. The remaining 6 holes of the golf course could be tranformed into a golf instruction area with a driving range, short game area, putting greens, etc. only 2-3 of the remaining 6 holes would be needed for this, leaving adequate space for other campus needs, such as a fitness trail or outdoor education area.
In addition, the demolition of the houses along University to the East of Spink Street should be continued throughout the whole block and a row of townhouses should be built so that this perimter of campus is not an eyesore but an impressive campus feature.
To whom it may concern,
I feel that the renovations on this campus are unnecessary. The campus’ appearance is what kept me interested during my visit. I feel that the money used for these future renovations could be aimed towards better uses. This could include more guest speakers or opportunities for summer research, a chance to give all departments more equal budgets. The Master Plan should focus more on helping students for their future careers instead of making them comfortable. Renovated dorms would be enjoyable, but what if half of the rooms are empty? Wooster has prided itself on the fact that it is a liberal arts college, so use the money to improve each and every type of study. Don’t let prospects judge a book by its cover.