Space limits implementation of total Master Plan
Jennifer Coleman
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: News
In January of 1998, a plan was approved to improve and upgrade all the facilities on the NDNU campus, as well as the overall campus environment.
This long-range plan that would direct campus development over the next decade, came to be known as the Master Plan.
The plan came about when the school realized the need for improvements to its campus facilities because of the growing number of students. Today 430 people live on campus, according to President John Oblak, and student enrollment has been capped by the city of Belmont at 1,500 full-time students.
In order to accommodate both foot and street traffic, improvements had to be made to NDNU. School officials along with the city of Belmont developed a plan that would improve, add and enhance buildings on the NDNU campus.
However, it would be a slow procedure.
"Plans are made for 15 years down the road," Oblak said. "(We must) work on it slowly."
The 15-year plan would be divided into three phases of development. Over the past couple of years students have already seen many of those developments take place - the expansion of the parking lot, the construction of New Hall, and the improvements made to many of the campus facilities.
The development of the east parking lot at the bottom of the hill, across from Taube Center, was the first advancement made.
Soon after, came the construction of New Hall, which so far, has been the biggest completed stage of the plan.
Since then many campus facilities have undergone a makeover as well. From the freshly painted corridors and restrooms of St. Mary's and Cuvilly Hall, to the retiled, repainted and recarpeted the interiors of St. Joe's and Julie Billiart Hall, students are beginning to become aware of the progress being made.
The classrooms too have seen their fair share of improvements, having been electronically equipped with new technology over the summer; Oblak said he hopes the removal of carpets and tiling of all classroom floors will not be too far off.
According to the Master Plan, the next phase of work includes development on a new Campus Center that would be located between St. Joe's and the Library Lawn. However, Oblak said that project has been put on hold because there is not enough space for it in that location.
There have also been talks about building a parking garage to alleviate the issue of the lack of parking on the NDNU campus. That project,too, has also been put off due to lack of space.
Oblak said NDNU is making strides to improve the campus community. By the end of the 15-year long project, it is expected that no building will have been left untouched.
This long-range plan that would direct campus development over the next decade, came to be known as the Master Plan.
The plan came about when the school realized the need for improvements to its campus facilities because of the growing number of students. Today 430 people live on campus, according to President John Oblak, and student enrollment has been capped by the city of Belmont at 1,500 full-time students.
In order to accommodate both foot and street traffic, improvements had to be made to NDNU. School officials along with the city of Belmont developed a plan that would improve, add and enhance buildings on the NDNU campus.
However, it would be a slow procedure.
"Plans are made for 15 years down the road," Oblak said. "(We must) work on it slowly."
The 15-year plan would be divided into three phases of development. Over the past couple of years students have already seen many of those developments take place - the expansion of the parking lot, the construction of New Hall, and the improvements made to many of the campus facilities.
The development of the east parking lot at the bottom of the hill, across from Taube Center, was the first advancement made.
Soon after, came the construction of New Hall, which so far, has been the biggest completed stage of the plan.
Since then many campus facilities have undergone a makeover as well. From the freshly painted corridors and restrooms of St. Mary's and Cuvilly Hall, to the retiled, repainted and recarpeted the interiors of St. Joe's and Julie Billiart Hall, students are beginning to become aware of the progress being made.
The classrooms too have seen their fair share of improvements, having been electronically equipped with new technology over the summer; Oblak said he hopes the removal of carpets and tiling of all classroom floors will not be too far off.
According to the Master Plan, the next phase of work includes development on a new Campus Center that would be located between St. Joe's and the Library Lawn. However, Oblak said that project has been put on hold because there is not enough space for it in that location.
There have also been talks about building a parking garage to alleviate the issue of the lack of parking on the NDNU campus. That project,too, has also been put off due to lack of space.
Oblak said NDNU is making strides to improve the campus community. By the end of the 15-year long project, it is expected that no building will have been left untouched.