Whether you're a freshman or a senior, construction on campus has been both widespread and grand. Campus saw many new additions including Marianist Hall, Science Center connector, The Hanger, Arena Sports Complex, and the completion of the RecPlex, to name a few.

Just when you thought the possibilities for further expansion and growth of the campus were exhausted, a new master plan is in the works by UD's campus planning team.

Director of campus planning, Rick Perales and his staff, along with professional partners, university constituents, neighboring community and local government plan to devise long-term land use strategies that will support the university's goals outlined in 'Focusing the Vision for 2010,' a position paper created to keep UD's position as one of the most distinctive Catholic institutions of higher education in the country.

As for the newest master plan, its aim is to continue with this objective while also incorporating the living-learning connection that UD emphasizes so much.

According to Perales, master plans are evolutionary, with continual changes and amending taking place.

Why a master plan?

According to Perales, it's imperative to establish a strategy for how you want to develop the campus so that the physical environment of campus adequately supports the long term objectives of the University. He draws an analogy to the value of a map for someone going on a long trip.

'The map, like the Campus Master Plan, is essential to accomplish the goal of arriving at the desired destination in the most efficient and effective manner possible,' said Perales.

In September 2006, the campus planning office sent out 'requests for qualification' to contractors, which is the normal business way of asking contractors to come in and say what they can do. Eventually, the choices for contractors are narrowed down to three, and by March of 2006 the planning committee will have a new master planner.

The old master plan is being rolled up and put away with approximately 85 percent of the plan accomplished. According to Perales this was a very successful plan. Typically a master plan will become obsolete well prior to 100 percent completion.

Perales indicated that changed strategies, priorities and people at the University over the course of the years impact the need for a new master plan. Moreover, in this case UD acquired a great deal of land which affects the entire master plan.

The new master plan will take into account the purchase of the NCR land, as well as purchase of land by Interstate Highway 75. Just this year, UD increased its real estate by 50 acres, making it a total of 250 acres owned. This purchase opened up a plethora of possibilities not previously available for consideration by the planners.

Master planning is attacked at UD with great focus on providing a physical environment conducive to a living-learning environment. Perales gave the example of the old Physical Activities Center (PAC).

'Ten years ago, if we built the PAC it would only be a student activity facility, but now we look at the learning aspect of all facilities we design,' Perales said. 'The evolution of learning, where it's going and the environmental support of that has become so much more important.'

The culmination of this living-learning environment will be seen once again in the newest master plan.

In the next issue of Flyer News, we will look at what the new master plan may include. Be sure to look for the next issue!