KRECOMMENDATIONS <strong>SUNY</strong> <strong>Cobleskill</strong> Facilities Master Plan – Phase 5 Report November 2011 Graphic K1 <strong>SUNY</strong> <strong>Cobleskill</strong> <strong>Final</strong> FMP <strong>Recommendation</strong>s Home Economics Hall Old Gym Hall Alumni Hall renovated with New Student & Community Center faces Route 7 and provides attractive “front door” to the campus. Includes Wellness Center, campus dining, activities and event space. 30
<strong>SUNY</strong> <strong>Cobleskill</strong> Facilities Master Plan – Phase 5 Report November 2011 RECOMMENDATIONS K K – RECOMMENDATIONS PLANNING OBJECTIVES Approach to Agriculture & Natural Resources Approach to Liberal Arts & Sciences Four primary planning objectives were identified by the College as part of the FMP process: • • • • Support changing pedagogies Address cultural divisions between ag and non-ag communities Create a safe and secure campus Become a part of the Town of <strong>Cobleskill</strong> community while striving to be a good neighbor These goals, along with <strong>SUNY</strong>’s mission, have been adopted as directing forces for the FMP process. To support changing pedagogies, <strong>SUNY</strong> <strong>Cobleskill</strong> builds upon the tradition of experiential learning by employing “active learning” techniques and maximizing student interaction with faculty and staff. Peer-to-peer learning will be promoted through better designed classrooms and informal meeting spaces. Addressing the cultural divisions on the campus is one of the College’s highest priorities. While the physical division of the campus by Route 7 is not the cause of the disconnect between “ag” and “non-ag” students, it certainly reinforces their segregation. It is a theme throughout the development of the FMP to minimize the physical and social divide by creating more compelling activity centers on both sides of Route 7 to encourage “crossing the highway,” while employing strategies to calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety at the crossing. The College remains committed to creating a safe and secure environment. Safety is increased by improving pedestrian pathways and crossings throughout the campus—particularly across and along Route 7. Landscape initiatives such as better wayfinding and new lighting will also help to create a safer campus environment. Strengthening the relationship between the College and the community can be achieved by providing on-campus activities for the broader community, as well as creating a better physical connection (particularly for pedestrians and cyclists) from the campus to Main Street in <strong>Cobleskill</strong>. Preceding the implementation of FMP initiatives, the School of Agriculture & Natural Sciences is receiving significant investment with the construction of the new Center for Agriculture & Natural Sciences and the replacement of many of the farm and animal facilities on campus. Despite this investment, there remain significant needs relative to the Agricultural Engineering department, outdoor class lab environments, and field needs for livestock and crops. The final FMP addresses these issues by: • • • • Providing a high-level renovation of Curtis Mott plus a new addition that includes departmental support, high-bay class lab space, equipment storage, and a case-method classroom Upgrading and replacing existing farm and animal facilities Providing new facilities to support specialized instruction (such as the livestock classroom building) Allocating resources for additional farmland Approach to Business The improvement of the School of Business has been emphasized by the College as a high priority. For the purpose of the FMP, the School is viewed as three distinct entities: Culinary Arts, Computer Technology, and Business & Accounting. The Department of Culinary Arts, Hospitality & Tourism has recently shifted its focus away from cooking and toward hospitality management. It is possible that the Department will pursue a second shift towards localism and farm-to-table food production, providing an opportunity to collaborate with the School of Agriculture & Natural Resources. Computer Technology expects a considerable decrease in enrollment out to 2023. The final FMP proposes to relocate Computer Technology from Warner-Holmes Hall to the renovated Alumni Hall, creating an “Information & Technology Commons” that includes open computer labs, C.A.S.E., the Writing Center, and class labs for Faculty & Student Technology Development. The Department of Business & Accounting is also a high priority. The FMP reinvents Home Economics Hall as the primary “Business” building on the campus. The building receives a full interior demolition and fit-out, and is repurposed with department offices, specialty learning spaces for Business and Ag Business such as case-methods classrooms and simulation labs. Faculty offices and collaboration space are also provided. A considerable amount of resources has recently been invested in the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, including the renovation of Frisbie Hall and the expansion of Wheeler Hall. To provide further support for Liberal Arts & Sciences, the final FMP proposes strategic upgrades to lecture, shared classrooms, and collaborative learning spaces campus-wide. Old Gym Hall is renovated and repurposed as the “Art” building on campus, with Art, Graphic Design and Landscape studios, general instruction, and supporting faculty offices. Approach to Library, Collaboration, and Food Service While the final FMP does not recommend an addition to the Library, it does provide more space for the Library by relocating C.A.S.E. and the Writing Center from the lower floor of Van Wagenen to Alumni Hall. The FMP envisions the library as a knowledge and media resource as well as a social hub (secondary to the Student & Community Center). In addition to a full renovation of the building, the final FMP proposes to upgrade the landscape and plaza area in the immediate vicinity of the Library. The primary dining facilities on the campus are currently located in Champlin Hall and Prentice Hall. While the College provided positive feedback on existing campus Food Service, the final FMP relocates one of the large dining facilities and provides a new “food court”-style dining hall in the Student & Community Center. In addition, three satellite cafes are provided across the campus—in Warner-Holmes, Van Wagenen Library, and the new Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources [CANR]. Other campus zones, such as the Upper Quad, will be provided with vending machines and lounge seating. To address campus Food Service, the final FMP recommends: • • Demolishing Champlin Hall and providing a new food courtstyle dining hall (275 seats) in the Student & Community Center Locating the main dining hall (400 seats) in Prentice Hall with “all-you-care-to-eat” service Prentice Hall will also include a 75-seat fine dining venue for weekend and evening service, as well as a bakery and the main CAS offices. The consolidation of the main dining hall and supporting services with Culinary Arts will provide a beneficial adjacency for students and faculty, creating yet another opportunity for real-life learning. 31
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