When the Campus Master Plan[1] was last updated in 2007, it only minimally addressed campus sustainability.  The Master Plan does state that “The campus will become a model of sustainable design and management through its everyday actions, monitoring, and reporting taking into account all appropriate economic, environmental, and social concerns.”  The Master Plan also includes an extensive discussion of alternative campus landscapes relating to the open space enhancements specified in the plan, and encourages areas of open space to be developed as examples of native and sustainable landscapes.  The Master Plan also endorsed transportation ideas that give priority to pedestrian, bicycle, and mass transit movement, consistent with sustainability goals.  However, the current Master Plan envisions extensive growth of existing facilities to accommodate future program needs, and anticipates future growth to continue much as it has in the past, at an average rate of about 1.73 million gross square feet of space per decade.

The campus is currently in the process of requesting approval to update the 2007 Campus Master Plan, which would provide an opportunity to better incorporate sustainability goals.  This could include additional recommendations for sustainable landscapes and sustainable goals in the design guidelines for open space, landscapes, and facilities.  Other opportunities for sustainable planning include, but are not limited to, designating specific sites as applicable for renewable energy production.  Finally, the Campus Master Plan update offers a critical opportunity to reconcile the need for new additional program space, as traditionally expected in planning efforts, with our campus’s net zero growth policy.

[1] https://www.uocpres.uillinois.edu/resources/uiucplan