Michigan State University

Highlights

• Site – 5,300 acres
• Land-Grant institution
• Vision 2050 identifies programmatic needs across
  MSU’s 83 statewide locations.
• The project traces historic and ecological factors
  shaping campus development.
• The project transforms the campus from vehicle dominant to multi-modal.
• Vision 2050 creates a cohesive network of paths,
  gardens, plazas, and quads that promote non-motorized mobility across campus.
• A parallel set of online engagement tactics reached
  multiple audiences
• The process culminated in a campus bus tour for the
  MSU Board of Trustees.

Perspectives

MSU has grown from 677 acres to over 5,200, with another 21,000 across the state. Three initial buildings now
number nearly 800 and over 25 million gsf. Managing growth over time and planning an estimated 2 million gsf
of net new growth per decade requires a holistic and integrated facilities and land use plan. The 2021 strategic
plan is the guiding force for Vision 2050 and is the platform for measuring results. The strategic plan articulates
a vision for the university to be a leader in advancing academic excellence, student success, faculty and staff
success, innovation for global impact, sustainable health, stewardship and sustainability, and Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion.

Stakeholders from various university departments collaborated extensively in the planning process. The team
conducted over 80 listening sessions, including over 1,540 participants, and conducted open houses that included
map-based activities, interactive feedback sessions and games, and virtual reality. Virtual options were also
provided via the project’s website.

The plan reflects the need for interior spaces that meet the university’s increasingly diverse population. The plan
also recognizes that today’s diverse population has broader needs for mental, physical, and social well-being
and recommends that improvements to the built environment incorporate spaces to establish identity, find
solace, practice faith, and tend to other physical and mental health needs. The plan provides hubs for student
collaboration within each academic precinct through a mixture of new facilities that add density and walkability,
renovation of strategic facilities, and demolition of poor-quality buildings. Additionally, the plan expands on the
“neighborhood” model, renewing and expanding housing capacity where necessary and continuing to embed key
nodes for students to meet with faculty and support staff.

As a land-grant institution, MSU is responsible for protecting and nurturing its vast land resources, including the
preservation of the farms. The team studied and mapped the research productivity of that land to make the case
for its preservation. The campus also maintains tremendous ecological and biodiversity assets. Advocating for
these assets ties directly to the land-grant mission of stewardship.

Project Team

Sasaki; Walker Consultants, Mobility and Parking; Sherwood Design Engineers, Civil and Stormwater.