Progress can only come from an early start

In order for universities and colleges to grow and improve, there have to be plans. A master plan has been approved and between now and 2032 will be set in motion to be completed.

Every 10 years, a master plan is created. Having one in 2007 means there didn’t need to be another until 2017. A 2012 master plan was discussed because there were “a number a decisions that had been made which required an update to the campus master plan,” said Jill Jennings Golich, Auraria Higher Education Center Campus Planner.

Unlike other colleges and universities, The Colorado State Legislature created Auraria Campus with three institutions. When the CU Denver and Metro arose, they both needed space and there was not the right amount of funding for separate campuses. Later, CCD came into the picture.

Golich and her assistant campus planner, Carl Meese, drafted the 2012 Master Plan with input from the Auraria Executives Committee.

According to Golich, it is a 20-year plan that has been developed with help from the AEC, which includes the presidents and chancellor of the institutions. A steering committee was also brought in, and the staff of the AHEC Planning Department prepared the document. Then it was presented to the Auraria Board of Directors in order to be officially approved at a meeting at the beginning of last summer.

“The [AHEC] Master Plan Update 2012 provides guidance for the development of the Auraria Campus,” said Golich. The main focus is on “the expansion of institutional neighborhoods, defining a circulation system, creating public urban spaces, recommending needed infrastructure improvements, and providing recommendations about how to knit the campus back into its surrounding community.”

Currently on campus, all three institutions share a majority of the buildings. An idea in the master plan is to have neighborhoods defining each campus. The Science building, Arts building, King Center, and the Auraria Library will continue to be shared according to Golich.

A positive to the master plan is “the embracing of an institution by a major corridor and greater specificity in the layout of future streets,” said Golich. There are recommendations about defining the three neighborhoods with CCD along Colfax, UCD along Speer, and Metro along Auraria Parkway.

Neighborhoods will help students navigate more efficiently through campus. Also, with three institutions, the plan “presented an idea to allow more input and flexibility in the bookstore by setting up individual stores within a store,” said Golich. Although this is still just an idea, it would provide more room and better guidance for each institution.

UCD and Metro would split the current bookstore into two by floor. CCD, having South Classroom as its main building, would have their bookstore
located there.

According to Golich, the future is never predictable, but she said she
believes this plan will achieve its goal to the best of its ability in providing guidance in
future development.