EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Campus <strong>Master</strong> Plan
executive summary Executive Summary In August 2008, <strong>Lamar</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> (<strong>LIT</strong>) engaged the architectural, planning, and engineering firm <strong>of</strong> Freese and Nichols, Inc. to develop a campus master plan. The objective <strong>of</strong> the master plan is to provide a 10 year (2020) plan for <strong>Lamar</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong>, (<strong>LIT</strong>) to address development and facility needs for the campus. The master plan will provide a vision for the development <strong>of</strong> the physical environment to support and promote the academic values, goals and mission <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Institute</strong>. The president <strong>of</strong> <strong>LIT</strong>, Dr. Paul J. Szuch, encouraged community stakeholders, faculty, staff, and students to participate in the planning process so that the plan would be embraced and shaped by everyone’s input. Based on the planning process and inclusive stakeholder involvement, this master plan will serve as a comprehensive guide to assist <strong>LIT</strong> into the future. Process The planning team approached the master plan project through a systematic process comprising Mobilization, Data Gathering, Analysis/Review, and Recommendations. In the Mobilization Phase, the planning team coordinated with <strong>LIT</strong> to prepare schedules and milestones. <strong>LIT</strong> provided the list <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Master</strong> Planning Steering Committee members and facilitated meeting arrangements. The Data Gathering Phase included a web-based questionnaire and interview sessions with the community stakeholders, <strong>Master</strong> Planning Steering Committee, faculty, staff, and students. The planning team also collected site data, enrollment trends, and previous reports and plans. During the Analysis/Review Phase, the planning team developed a thorough understanding <strong>of</strong> the opportunities, constraints, strengths, and weaknesses <strong>of</strong> <strong>LIT</strong>’s current status. The information gathered from surveys, interviews, requested information, and campus site visits served as a foundation for data analysis. The analyzed data was used to formulate recommendations for the master plan. In the Recommendation Phase, the planning team refined the concept plan to develop the final master plan recommendations. Narratives, graphics and sketches, cost estimates, and implementation strategies were then developed to support the plan. Next, a threephase implementation approach was developed for the final document. <strong>Master</strong> Plan Community Stakeholder Meeting Recommendations The final campus master plan is the reflection <strong>of</strong> countless hours <strong>of</strong> collaboration with the <strong>Institute</strong> and various stakeholders. A wide range <strong>of</strong> data and comments were analyzed and discussed during the development <strong>of</strong> the plan. The final plan reflects several important campus recommendations to be implemented in a three-phase approach. While some recommendations are dependent on the completion <strong>of</strong> others, there is flexibility in the plan to allow progress to be made in a future climate <strong>of</strong> change and uncertainty. Currently, <strong>LIT</strong> is land-locked with few options available to balance the future need for new facility space, parking, and exterior green spaces within the existing footprint. The plan addresses the need for additional property and illustrates how to fully develop the campus facilities and grounds in the future. CAMPUS MASTER PLAN <strong>Lamar</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> 4