M e e t i n g     N o t e s     

Meeting Subject:          Master Plan Introduction / Idea Generation / Open House

                                    (Informal "Drop In" Session)    

Location:                     Architecture Building (lobby)

Meeting Date / Time:    Tuesday, March 12, 2002 / 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.  

Issue Date:                   March 28, 2002

Participants:                Students, Faculty, and Staff

Prepared By:               SmithGroup JJR

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this meeting was to introduce the Campus Master Plan process to the students, faculty, and staff of the Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Planning and other design programs.  This was an informal "drop in" session intended to generate ideas and issues regarding the existing campus conditions and projected needs for the upcoming UNLV Master Plan.  The participants wrote their ideas, comments, and suggestions on seven (7) category / topic boards.  The following text summarizes the comments that were recorded during this session (items with an asterisk indicate higher priority items or items of more significance).

Image

·         Visual cues are needed at the campus entrances (color to match mascot).   Improve wayfinding.

·         The image of UNLV does not convey "tradition."  It is lacking the elements of a "university district." There is no identity.

·         A colonnade would help to add a sense of tradition.

·         Campus lacks a place where its identity is defined (such as a central quad/gathering/event place).

·         All edges are parking lots.  This presents a poor image.

·         If parking is to remain on edges, consider the example of the lot along Maryland and University:  streetside and island plantings mitigate the view of an expanse of cars - extend this example to the Thomas & Mack and other campus edges.

·         The campus perimeter needs definition.

·         Remove billboards.

·         More public interaction is needed.  Consider a series of gateways, kiosks, or gathering spaces to generate new public interaction points.

·         Campus building materials lack a sense of permanence.

·      *Better signage is needed for buildings.

·         There isn't a "hallmark building(s)" or a gateway.

·         Flags with quotes would be a way of conveying identity and ideals.

Architecture

·         A universal design would be helpful (for people with disabilities).

·         Need better parking on campus.

·         Provide a major street through campus to improve circulation (line with shops).

·         Do we need a centralized campus?  Remote campuses are a positive attribute.

·         Improve the ambient air quality.  It is very unhealthy (particulate matter).

·         The sports complex is not integrated into campus.

·         Tear down or renovate Maude Frazier Hall.  Although historic, it is inefficient. 

·         Create a "campus village" at the northeast corner.

·      *There is a lack of studio space in the School of Architecture building.

·         The Music Building is beautiful.  We need a beautiful School of Architecture building to match.

·         Are the current buildings going to last more than 30 years (do we want them to)?

·      *Incorporate more public and green space into buildings.

·         The Cox Pavilion is the newest "ugly structure" on campus.

·         The Chemistry Building has a full size basement that lowers the profile and keeps the first floor cool.

·         Bring back Architecture trailers.

·         Circulation is bad in the CEB.

·         Grant Hall is terrible.

·         Buildings are their "own little islands."

·         Improve lecture and class space.  Many facilities have poor acoustics.

·         Establish design vision and guidelines..and enforce them.

·         Clearly identify "front doors" of buildings.   Redesign, if necessary.

Open Space

·      *The Desert Garden is one of the favorite places on campus.

·      *The Desert Garden should be closer to the School of Architecture.  Create a work in process to learn from (research tool).

·      *Thomas & Mack parking is a grotesque sea of asphalt, a heat island, and a horrible image for the University.

·         More landscaping is needed on pedestrian corridor and at Lied Library.

·         Reinforce axis between Student Services and Lied Library and beyond.  Create a new mall in this location.

·      *The campus needs more exterior shade and seating - areas like those in North Mall.

·         The trees and lawn in the Quad provide a beautiful walk and resting place.

·         Create a disc-golf trail throughout campus.

·         Quality site design should include water, but nothing lavish.

·         Provide opportunities to keep people on campus after classes are over.

·         The campus needs cohesion.  The current open spaces seem accidental in many areas (just waiting to become more parking).

·         The ball diamond in center of campus is a great area of relief from the structures (parking should be under it).

·         Create a new central campus node as a major quad between Lied Library, CBC, Beam Hall and museum.  This is a great opportunity that should not to be missed.

·         Convert Brussels Street to a pedestrian mall.

·         Retain the open space provided by the softball field near CBC.  Create a linkage of green around center of campus.

·         Keep open space by Lied Library.

·         The amphitheater is a good gathering space.

·         There isn't any high quality public space.

·         The extreme west side of campus has no buildings, just sports facilities.  Spread the buildings and green spaces around campus.

·         Integrate arboretum into the open space plan as a teaching/research tool.

·         Designate open spaces as "safety zones" for arboretum plant collection - that is, places that will not be disturbed for 20-30-40 years so that trees can grow without interference.

·         The outside eating area between the bookstore and Moyer Student Union is an enjoyable student gathering place.

·         Sycamore Grove by Engineering, Pita Plaza, and the interior courtyards of CBC are favored places by students.

·         The least favorite places are the runway (a.k.a. Alumni Walk) by CBC/library, Thomas & Mack parking lot, and the broken fountain by Fine Arts.

Environment

·      *The parking areas need shade.

·      *More shade is needed, including along walkable spaces and pedestrian corridors.

·         Add more landscaping along the one-way from Brussels Street.

·         Create more shaded gathering spaces.

·         The UNLV campus should relate to the desert environment.

·         Move slowly on converting to a desert landscape.  This transition creates more heat, dust, and unusable spaces.

·         Some buildings reflect environmental design, but few of the parking facilities do.

·         All buildings should have solar roof panels to supply emergency power and/or solar water heaters.

·         Use water-saving drought tolerant grass.

Circulation

·      *It is not possible to make a left turn onto Tropicana Avenue from Brussels Street.

·         Special events cause traffic and parking problems at the School of Architecture building.

·         Parking structures must meet School of Architecture growth projections.

·      *Convert Brussels Street to a two-way.

·         A stoplight is needed at Tropicana and Brussels.

·         Parking availability and proximity to campus is important to commuter students.

·         Calm traffic on Maryland Parkway to allow a stronger connection to the commercial/residential activities east of campus.

·      *There are poor links to Maryland Parkway from the campus interior.

·         Remove parking along Maryland Parkway.

·         Pedestrian movement across and along Maryland Parkway is very dangerous.

·         All major streets surrounding the campus are hazardous for students.

·         Intra-university traffic via carts is problematic.  For example:  students vs. carts, cart paths are indirect, cart parking is ugly, carts are expensive to maintain, etc.

·         The Maryland and Harmon entrance does not serve well as a campus main entrance.  A main entrance should be articulated near Tropicana and Swenson, but not as an unsightly parking lot.

·         There are not enough campus and city bike paths.

·         More parking is needed.

·         There is not enough parking at peak times.

·         Remove internal parking spaces.

·         The campus needs more parking decks.  Remove surface lots.

·         Parking terraces should be underground.  Provide "ball parks" on top.

·         Place parking terrace under the Quad with access off of Maryland Parkway and Harmon .. this parking would be most centrally located and convenient to the central campus community and allow exterior communities to park near buildings.

·      *Dorothy Avenue goes nowhere and is obstructed for no apparent reason from continuing onto Brussels Street.

·         There is heavy traffic everywhere during the day.

·         The campus needs more outreach/response to the surrounding community.

Safety

·         Pedestrian crossing is extremely hazardous on Tropicana Avenue . lower speed limit or install a traffic light.

·         Maryland Parkway is extremely hazardous - "The dash of death."

·         The campus' openness to Maryland Parkway and Tropicana Avenue increases potential vagrant traffic.

·         Create safer environment on the boundaries.

·      *Campus is not safe at night.

·         Need more safety lights.  More safety phones and lights are needed.

·         More lighting around buildings and along walkways will deter criminal activity.

·         There could be more CCTU in and around buildings and in parking lots.

·         The parking lots need more security.  Many cars are broken into.

·         Create and encourage on-campus housing.  This is very important.

Additional Issues

·      *On-campus student life needs to be strengthened!

·         This is an apathetic community.  Foster stronger community involvement.

·         More pedestrian friendly elements are needed to reach out to the community.

·         Family housing is needed on campus.

·         UNLV needs to respond more to commuter and non-traditional students.

·         Brussels Street should be commuter traffic only.

·      *The UNLV campus is not cohesive. it is fragmented.

·         Need more great art or public art or sculpture on campus.  Example:  Oldenberg

·         An outdoor pool and exercise area (squash courts) is needed on the southeast side of campus.

·         UNLV needs a "public space" at the front door, like MSU.

·         A link from the School of Architecture to main campus is needed.

·      *Need to associate different colleges together.  The School of Architecture building is so secluded from the rest of the campus.

·         More amphitheater spaces are needed for various concerts or spontaneous gatherings.

Respectfully submitted by:

SmithGroup JJR

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