UNT Campus Master Plan provides beauty, functionality for future of campus

Speaking in his interim role as the university officer primarily in charge of guiding the future growth and development of the campus, Richard Rafes says the recent UNT System Board of Regents approval of the UNT Campus Master Plan for 2002 is a much-needed step forward for the development of a more beautiful and functional campus. Rafes, vice chancellor and general counsel and interim vice chancellor for administration for the UNT System and interim vice president for administration for UNT, says the plan, originally adopted by the regents in 1998, is a work in progress that must be updated on a regular basis.

The changes adopted by the regents in August involve adjusting planning strategies to include:

• Incorporating the acquisition of the UNT Research Park (the former Texas Instruments property and facilities in North Denton), the new Educational/Athletic Complex (the Liberty Christian School property that will come under UNT control in July 2004) and 10 residential properties purchased in 2002 in planning considerations;
  
  
• Proposing new, convenient and user-friendly parking garage, parking lot and transportation options to address parking needs that accompany current and future enrollment growth;
  
  
• Identifying 16 building sites that could allow a 35 to 50 percent increase in total space available for campus facilities;
  
  
• Moving ahead with the spring 2003 construction of a new science building (between Avenue C and the Science Research Building on Hickory) and a new 300-bed residence hall (on newly acquired property on West Prairie);
  
  
• Developing a park-like pedestrian walkway and greenspace from the Gateway Center to the academic center of campus; and
  
  
• Extending the western and southern boundaries of the university.

Rafes says implementing the vision of the Campus Master Plan expeditiously will further develop the university as one with an environment friendly to students, faculty, staff and visitors that promotes UNT's educational mission and purpose.

For more UNT Campus Master Plan information and to view a larger version of the image at the top of the page, visit www.unt.edu/masterplan.

BY RODDY WOLPER rwolper@unt.edu

Other web resources

• UNT Campus Master Plan

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT enrollment reaches 30,256 students — an all-time high
• UNT faculty, staff encouraged to participate in Parent and Family Weekend
• Hispanic Friends of UNT conference Oct. 4
• Staff Council elects officers
• Former Israeli Defense Force member to visit UNT
• SLIS associate dean appointed as faculty executive assistant to the president
• UNT is staying on top of compliance issues
• Decorate with Texas' Capitol

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