A network of walking paths. More picturesque landscaping. New spaces for recreation and relaxation in the Quad. These are some of the first steps in the campus makeover of the University due to begin this summer.
“It’s exciting with any master plan to finally ‘put a shovel in the ground’ and get started,” said Thomas Curran, director of Campus Planning and Design.
In the months ahead, Fairfield hopes to begin implementing its new Landscape Master Plan to develop new outdoor spaces, with an overall goal to encourage more pedestrian movement around campus.
Standards have been created for plant materials, site furnishings, paving and lighting that will unify the campus in an environmentally-friendly manner. “Students that live on campus are here 24/7, and they’re the ones that use these spaces to study, to sit down with a friend, or to throw a Frisbee,” said William Weitzer, senior vice president. “Our priorities are dictated by what will benefit students most.”
The development of the Landscape Master Plan was headed by Weitzer, who has a Ph. D. in environmental psychology and is an advocate for the importance of an aesthetically pleasing campus for learning.
Weitzer said that the most frequent complaint that the University receives about the campus is in regards to layout. “While many individual aspects of our campus are beautiful, we don’t think about how the pieces fit together,” said Weitzer. Weitzer is most proud of the cohesiveness that the new plan will bring to campus.
“I am excited about having a Quad that says we are one community,” said Weitzer.
“That is what college is all about.” Mark Reed, vice president for administrative ‘ student affairs, said that the cost of phase one of the Landscape Master Plan will range between $1.5 million to $2.5 million.
Phase one of the Landscape Master Plan is the redesign of the Residential Quad and a small area near Loyola Hall. The existing pathway network will be rerouted to strengthen connections to other areas and buildings.
“This plan will create an outdoor space for the Quad residents that truly enhances the social aspects of campus life,” said Curran.
A standard paving material palette will be used to create a unified path system that will eventually extend throughout campus with future phases. Shrubs and trees that are currently in the space will be removed and new plantings as well as furnishings will be installed.
“The patch of grass behind Loyola Hall makes the area so divided,” said Jenny Mingus ’10, a Loyola resident. “If changes were made people would intermix instead of being so separate by dorm. It would be great to have the area more unified and have more room for activity.”
Phase two of the Landscape Master Plan will extend the cohesive path system to the “Campus Core,” the area near the Barone Campus Center and Canisius Hall. This phase also will create a link between Dolan Campus to the north and the Dolan School of Business to the south.
“We want to accommodate for students living in Dolan, so that they might not feel so far away. It won’t feel like your going from one world to another,” said Weitzer.
Highlighting phase three of the Landscape Master plan is a bridge over the existing loading dock at the Barone Campus Center to allow pedestrians another option to access nearby buildings, such as the library.
Access to the library from other areas of campus has proved problematic for pedestrians.
“The new pedestrian bridge looks really convenient; I think it should be phase one, the first step in making campus changes,” said Kyle Duggan ’11. “When your walking anywhere from that direction it’s a nuisance.”
Phase four of the plan involves creating a more pedestrian-friendly campus core. The BCC traffic circle will be completely replaced by pathways, plants and furnishings.
Further improvements within the Landscape Master Plan that may be done in the future include a separate entrance for Fairfield Prep, a nature trail, as well as reworked traffic and parking areas.
The Landscape Master Plan was developed based on input garnered from a series of inclusive, collaborative workshops with many members of the campus and surrounding community.
The University has hired the landscape architectural firm of Towers-Golde to complete the design, which is expected to be implemented this summer.
“There are various regulatory approvals required,” said Reed. “That said, it is our sincere hope and ultimately our goal to commence work on phase one this summer, with most complete by the time students arrive back to campus in late August.” The revitalization of the Residential Quad is a part of a number of construction projects that will be implemented this summer, including an Early Childhood Learning Center and a new Jesuit Community Center.
Fairfield tries to avoid doing construction during the academic year.
“I think that it’s a pain to have a construction site as your school. It seems like a good idea as long as I don’t have to see the process,” said Allie Quinlan ’10. Brendan Sargent ’11 agreed. “If it can get done rather quickly, it’d be awesome.”
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