Many students are relieved that campus construction appears to finally be nearing an end. However, the Barone Campus Center and Bannow Science Center may be just the first round of improving Fairfield University’s campus.

The campus master plan, originally unveiled in October 1995, was meant to be a framework for future the development of the campus while still meeting Fairfield’s changing needs.

The were several main goals of the plan at its onset. The first was to meet main short-term needs, like the addition to the DiMenna-Nyselius Library, the renovation of the Barone Campus Center, improvements to the residence halls, and the renovation of the Bannow Science Center. Also, the plan was aimed at selecting future construction sites, designing improvements for roads and signs, as well as “softening” many of the buildings around campus with landscaping.

Remaining short term goals of the plan include the completion of renovation to Campion Hall. If funding is approved, then this will happen over the summer.

Another area of short term concern is the fate of Alumni Hall. With the move of the basketball team to the Arena at Harbor yard, a number have options have opened up for the building.

“We don’t have to worry about cramming 5,000 seats in there,” said Richard Taylor, Associate Vice President for Campus Operations.

Plans for Alumni Hall currently include more space for weight training and cardiovascular exercise, as well as tripling the current practice space for various teams and clubs.

Also among the short term goals is a new tree-lined boulevard starting at the main entrance on North Benson Road to provide a “sense of arrival” for campus visitors. This new boulevard begin at the road and travel straight inward to the at the road and travel straight inward to the front of the Barone Campus Center.

The existing rotary will be eliminated, and the tennis courts will be relocated to a space near the Walsh Athletic Center. The new boulevard will also have a less steeper grade, so that a view into the campus will be possible from North Benson Road.

The campus operations staff is also at work designing and implementing new signs to be placed around campus.

The overall plan calls for “site anchors” and “information kiosks” that can more attractively and easily point visitors to their desired destination.

All of the roads on campus will also be named to prevent confusion.

Other than the most recent improvements, the main highlights of future construction detailed in the master plan include another residence hall to be built between Campion and Jogues on the quad and another academic building to be built on the base of the hill between Bellarmine Hall and the school of business.

The plan also included a full analysis of the much-maligned parking situation at the school.

“Every single space that existed before the construction has been replicated,” according to Taylor.

At the same time, maintaining the amount of greenery on campus was a major concern of the administration. “We didn’t want to pave paradise,” Taylor said.

To do this, the planners intend to plant large amounts of trees and flowers to the campus, in addition to vegetation already introduced.

Although 2,167 trees and shrubs and over 5,000 flowers have been planted on campus in the last 18 months, more greenery is planned for campus, particularly in the quad.

Since all the buildings in the quad were built when the school was relatively young, Fairfield could not afford the best architects to design residence halls.

The result, in the quad buildings, was “somewhat severe architecture,” said Taylor. To “soften” this, many trees and shrubs will be planted in the quad within one to two years.

According to Taylor, “The Board of Trustees have been incredibly supportive” of the main plans for campus improvements.

Overall, the biggest question is one of funding. Once the money comes through for campus improvements, it takes relatively little time to implement them, said Taylor.