UAFS Master Plan
Welcome to the website for the UAFS Master Plan. Our objectives are: 1) to keep the campus community informed about the background, process and status of the ongoing and collective efforts to update the campus master plan; and 2), to provide a vehicle for feedback on alternatives and ideas being considered.
April/May 2013 Update
Click here to view the latest plan revisions.
The preliminary master plan is the first attempt to bring together the best elements from each of the alternatives that were presented on campus in January 2013. It will show not only the locations of proposed new and repurposed structures, new and expanded campus open spaces, and new circulation and parking patterns, but also set a new course for the identity and function of campus. The master plan will be a long-term vision for UAFS that will be incrementally implemented over 20+ years.
What is a master plan?
A campus master plan is a road map for the future development of the campus. Ideally it is informed by and a physical manifestation of the strategic plan. Nowhere is long-range, strategic planning more important and effective than in the shaping of physical environments. Without it, each decision made about a campus' facilities -- from new buildings to renovations to infrastructure improvements -- is made in isolation, without a bigger vision in mind.
History of Campus Master Planning at UAFS:
The first campus master plan was published in 1990. Developed by MMMG Architecture of Fort Smith and EDAW Inc. of Atlanta GA, it effectively guided the re-making of the campus for the better part of two decades.
The change in role and scope in 2002, along with the arrival of Chancellor Paul Beran in July 2006 brought a new strategic planning process to the campus. The need for additional student housing, however, eclipsed completion of the strategic plan. To address this, staff selected an architectural firm, Allison Architecture, with both master planning and student housing design experience. Working with Allison, staff completed an abbreviated master plan process in February 2009 that identified site location for what is now Lions’ Den Housing.
The release of the Strategic Plan in August 2010 intensified the need for a fully developed update to the master plan. Chancellor Beran approved moving forward with creation of a new campus facilities plan. Funds were earmarked to engage a nationally recognized design firm and a request for qualifications (RFQ) was advertised in January 2012..
Profile on Planning Consultants
SmithGroup JJR of Ann Arbor, Michigan was selected from the twelve firms that responded to the RFQ. SmithGroup JJR has an extensive portfolio of master planning experience and is joined on the UAFS project with Crafton-Tull of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Paulien and Associates of Denver, Colorado. Work commenced in September 2012 following Board and Legislative approval of the contract.
Master Plan Process and Timeline
There are six phases in the process:
1. Discovery and Goal Setting
2. Campus Analysis and Space Needs
3. Idea Generation
4. Refinement
5. Implementation Strategies
6. Documentation
Efforts have been led by the Steering Committee with the support of the Campus Advisory Committee with multiple opportunities for input from on- and off-campus stakeholders. The planning process will culminate in August 2013 with presentation of the updated master plan at the fall faculty in-service.
