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Albany State College Facilities Master Plan

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Project Description:
ALBANY STATE COLLEGE

Purpose

From its origins as a Bible and Manual Training Institute, Albany State College (ASC) has changed much during nearly a century of growth. The college's reputation for innovation in education supports a yearly growth projection of ten percent. The current enrollments of nearly 2,500 students will more than double by the year 2003 -- the college's centennial. To accommodate this growth, the college will develop several programs with an increase in class sizes, resulting in physical growth of the campus.

A commitment to visibility within the community will further project the college's image of a progressive, growing, regional college. By taking classes to satellite locations within the community, the college will maximize the potential for exposure within the region. ASC's desire to be a cultural center within the community speaks highly of its progressive attitudes toward personal and professional growth. This commitment to the Albany community was a significant issue during the planning process. From an enhancement of site identity and imagery, to the coordination with city planning officials, the planners were dedicated to maintaining and strengthening the "good neighbor" relationship the college has with the city of Albany.

The Facilities Master Plan is a resolution of several preliminary-planning alternatives. These various alternatives were evaluated with ASC representatives during on-site work sessions to determine the preferred attributes of each. Now resolved into a more definite solution, the master plan serves as an important tool that embodies the vision and direction for change. Essentially a guideline to a future destination, the plan emphasizes land development patterns, building massing, open space systems, parking considerations, and a network of circulation for pedestrians and vehicles.

Role of Submitter

Planners, landscape architects, and facility programmer are provided the leadership on a team in which the client was the most important member. The planners and landscape architects were involved from project initiation, participating in the development of the project goals and the planning direction, to the development and documentation of the final master plan. The project included two interactive on-site work sessions involving key college officials and staff members. The master plan programming, or "fact finding work session," included a series of detailed interviews with the college to determine the needs and requirements of the plan. Planners participated in these meetings while conducting site analysis and developing the land use plan. The planners also conducted meetings with the Dougherty County Planning Commission, the City Planning Department, and the City Engineering Office, gathering additional information in coordination with the city's future planning direction.

This initial fact finding and problem definition was used as the basis to develop the long-range master plan. During the second interactive session, the planning team and client synthesized the programmatic data into an approved planning direction and an initial phasing strategy. The leadership of the planning team and the interactive nature of the process ensured consensus and buy-in for the approved plan.

Project Resolution

The Facilities Master Plan illustrates the spatial quality envisioned for the campus environment. An "infill strategy" for locating proposed facilities within the existing academic core is expressed with the setings of the New Administration Building, Student Multiplex Center, and intramural Gymnasium. These new facilities are strategically located to maximize open parcels existing within the current campus layout. Conceptually, these undeveloped areas, including interior surface perking zones, are currently counter-productive in containing the space of the academic core. The linear layout of facilities suggests an opportunity to strengthen the existing building massing by infilling with facilities that respect similar setbacks and alignments to create a cohesive series of quadrangles and courtyards. Special designs for the newly created spaces utilize landscape architectural elements to enhance and reinforce the pedestrian aspect of each area. In addition, existing vehicular circulation routes that bisect the campus core, creating hazardous conflicts for pedestrians, have been diverted to an outboard loop road. Designated drep-off zones have been identified on the loop road at each end of the new pedestrian spine, shifting the academic core from a predominantly vehicular zone to a pedestrian zone. These improvements, combined with an orderly plan for campus development and future expansion, will continue of provide ASC with the framework required to support their campus growth goals.

Significance

The illustrative plan responds to the planning goal of an upgraded image and higher community visibility with numerous physical solutions. Landscape development plays a vital role in the treatment of the campus edge by distinguishing the college from adjacent land uses. This is accomplished through the implementation of street tree plantings, landscaped benins, and four vertical pylons marking the axial link between the campus core and future athletic complex across Radium Springs Road. A new entry boulevard is also proposed with a visitor kiosk and information center, providing a strong image statement and ease of circulation upon entering the campus. Within the heart of the campus, a proposed vertical element will serve as a focal point in the academic core area as well as a beacon to the surrounding community. The verticality may be expressed by an obelisk, a clock lower, or a bell tower, indicating the presence of the ASC campus to visitors and travelers to the area.

Special Factors

The master plan solution for Albany State Collage uniquely responds to the existing context of the campus while maximizing the opportunities for the future. The preservation of historic structures, such as Orene Hall, Brown, and Caroline Hall, on this predominantly African-American campus is a significant aspect of the plan as well as an enrichment of the academic core's quality. The re-routing of transportation nodes and circulation systems to an outboard location preserves the quality of the pedestrian environment while enhancing the efficiency of service and delivery systems. Overall campus image is improved by the dedication of Ogelthorpe Boulevard and Radium Springs Road as ceremonial entry drives. Strategic acquisition of new properties promotes future growth opportunities and improves visibility for the campus to the community.

As with any successful master planning effort, the Facilities Master Plan for Albany State College not only documents a direction for change, but also provides a standard by which future changes may be measured.

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