Master Plan > Recommendations and Implementation Strategies > Secondary Planning Issues> Site Specific Studies >
Housing Quad
The concept of a housing quad is a means by which the campus community, particularly student residents, reclaim pedestrian spaces previously dominated by and designed for automobiles. These pedestrian quads are located in the “pods” formed by existing and proposed student housing buildings.
Recommendations:
- Remove vehicular circulation loops from the internal space created by housing pods
- Focus on designing pedestrian corridors through and within the sites
- Connect pedestrian corridors with larger pedestrian spaces or central walkways
- Make dual-purpose sidewalks 18’-0” wide, at mini-mum, to accommodate vehicular traffic for emergency, maintenance, and move-in day purposes
- Make pedestrian-only sidewalks 8’-0” to 10’-0” wide
- Create small, intimate spaces outside major entry points to the buildings; include amenities such as plantings and seating
- Maintain large central open spaces for spontaneous active or passive recreation
Implementation:
- Remove vehicular transportation loops incrementally
- Coordinate with University Village Housing Inc., for funding and construction purposes where necessary
- Include quad design in any new housing pod development
Existing Housing Quad Existing housing pods are vehicular-oriented, creating vast expanses of virtually unusable space for pedestrian residents who live in the adjacent buildings.
Proposed Housing Quad
Re-designed housing quads would favor pedestrian movement and interaction by removing the vehicular loops, creating drop-off zones along roadways, and opening up expanses of lawn and walkways to promote informal gatherings and activities.