Northwestern State University of Louisiana has created a Master Plan for future campus development designed to guide the university’s physical growth.
The Master Plan reflects a shared vision of NSU’s students and faculty to enhance the student experience, improve accessibility and establish a more vibrant university setting. The goal of the plan is to create a more pedestrian-focused campus while also improving connectivity through architectural improvements.
The Master Plan focuses on several areas: the campus core, Chaplin Lake, the athletics campus and residential expansions. The focus on these areas will help create a pedestrian-first campus, improving walkability and accessibility while also providing greater access to Chaplin Lake.
Jennifer Kelly, executive director of university affairs, explained how the Master Plan has been in the works for quite some time. “When Dr. Chris Maggio was here as president, we started talking about having a master plan. Dr. Maggio kicked it off with us and then Dr. Marcus Jones pushed us on through. President Genovese was here as we finished it,” she said.
Kelly stated that NSU worked with AQ Studios, a design firm in Lafayette, on the Master Plan. “They are one of the designers of Alost Hall, so that is how we got in touch with them. They are very versed in higher education and designing campuses,” she said.
According to AQ Studios’ website, NSU worked with the company alongside CARBO Landscape Architecture. “Northwestern State University partnered with AQ Studios and CARBO Landscape Architecture to craft a comprehensive vision for the next generation of its historic campus,” the website states.
Kerry Frey, an AQ Studios architect, commented on the project. “We’ve done a couple of campus master plans. We do a pretty diverse range of planning types, such as streetscaping projects and things like that. I was the planning lead for the project. We worked really closely with CARBO as a partner,” Frey said.
Frey mentioned how the lack of unity and the fragmented nature of NSU’s campus were a focus point in the development of the Master Plan. AQ Studios’ approach to the plan is a long-term one that will make improvements to the campus slowly over time, rather than one that will offer an immediate fix.
“One of the first things that we looked at was old plans and aerial images of the campus, so we started looking at how the campus was originally designed. Northwestern doesn’t really have a true campus quad or a singular kind of gathering space, so I think our main goal was to create some synergy between the buildings to make wayfinding easier,” Frey said.
According to the Master Plan provided by Kelly, one of the proposed improvements to enhance connectivity is a new campus centerpiece called the Greenbelt. The Greenbelt will act as the spine of NSU’s campus and function as the university’s primary organizing element. The proposed projects that will be a part of the Greenbelt consist of a future student union, a parking garage, a campus gateway and more.
“The Greenbelt was a main point that came out of our work that was done with AQ Studios. To create really nice green, beautiful, but also accessible and safe routes through campus by concentrating on where people are walking is kind of that first priority,” Amy Norval, a CARBO associate, noted.
Creating a master plan allows for a more attainable goal, according to the architects of AQ Studios and CARBO. The process of designing a master plan is important to the overall execution of proposed projects, especially those that are integral to the connectivity of the campus.
“As we go through the design process, whoever we’re working with, we make sure they’re referencing back to the overall plan so that they’re not trying to build a single building in its own little box without thinking about the greater context of how it relates to the rest of the university,” Keith Maung-Douglass, a CARBO associate, said.
There is not currently a definite timeline to begin construction and improvement of NSU’s campus. There is also no budget that has been disclosed by NSU or the companies involved in the development of the Master Plan.
“With a plan like this, we are looking at making recommendations for improvements that could be happening slowly over 20 years or more. If we were to develop a cost estimate today, that number would not be valid a year from now, simply due to market changes and inflation,” Frey noted. “So we’ve just found that cost estimates can be very unreliable for a long-term plan like this.”
The design strategies of the Master Plan will help inspire innovative and creative solutions for campus improvements. Within the campus core, design strategies such as building sizes, textures, landscaping, materials, signage and lighting should be consistent with NSU’s already established historic style. NSU’s Master Plan does not aim to imagine an entirely new campus, but that does not mean that certain landmarks or areas do not need improvement.
A key landmark on campus is Chaplin Lake. A pedestrian bridge, a new pavilion and boardwalks are additions that the Master Plan proposes for improvement. The pedestrian bridge and other proposed structures would align with Sam Sibley Drive, allowing for a closely-knit and accessible route for students.
“Chaplin Lake is such a great resource. People are always naturally drawn to water. By restoring some of those native habitats and adding boardwalks, it can help students and the community engage with the water’s edge. That was something we looked at pretty closely,” Norval said.
By preserving the history of the campus and improving outdated infrastructure, NSU’s Master Plan aims to lay a foundation to support future generations of students.
