Learning Resources

Abstract: 2019 presents a changing landscape as concerns mount over environmental decline, increasing atmospheric carbon, and competition for resources. Across field after field, research demonstrates the impact of the built environment on climate change and the essential role retooling the built environment must play in addressing it. Globally, a massive reallocation of resources has begun as nations commit to addressing climate change and the social and economic equity challenges confronting our increasingly crowded planet.

To achieve Paris Agreement targets and advance the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III, architects, planners, and owners must fundamentally transform how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated. Creative and courageous people are forging new pathways full of promise and hope.

Institutions of higher learning have always been laboratories for testing new approaches at multiple scales—building, campus, and institutional. This keynote will articulate the compelling 21st century challenges and opportunities for the design and planning fields in higher education.

Abstract: The “Greater College Park Initiative” is a signature multi-year effort in President Wallace Loh’s leadership and administration to continue positive town/gown relations with development that enhances both the university campus and surrounding communities.

This talk provided an overview of University of Maryland's (UMD) strategic plan and how it is supported by the five-year update to the university’s facilities master plan, approved in 2017. It discussed current local and regional planning initiatives as well as campus and community development projects, including the associated partnerships and collaborations with municipal, organizational, and private-sector partners.

Abstract: The built environment directly affects human health and sustainability coordinators and campus planners are uniquely positioned to advocate for healthier buildings for their students, faculty, and staff. Smith College is a prime example of how a higher education institution can inspire market transformation. The Neilson Library renovation went above and beyond Smith College’s campus sustainability policy by implementing a sustainability charter, prioritizing health and wellness, and advocating for positive change. In this session, you will learn how material transparency and optimization can act as an avenue to address health and wellness in your institution's built environment.

Abstract: In this session we will discuss the green gauges methodology, which was developed to organize complex design information within a simple structure and help institutions invest in design strategies that serve environmental and financial goals. Design and construction teams will use this methodology to communicate strategies with stakeholders early in the process and provide consistent information regarding operational energy and the resulting carbon savings. Come learn how to use the green gauges methodology at your institution and discover the cost per metric ton of avoided carbon over the operation life of a particular strategy.

Abstract: Over their 150-year history, land-grant universities have played a tremendous and vital role in the development of the United States and the education of its people. Most of these institutions were established as the result of the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862. How has this mission, drafted in a much different time, held up over the years? As we move toward the third decade of the twenty-first century, many universities are evolving to better embrace changing student demographics; build industry partnerships; and reframe campus legacies to ensure that the land-grant mission still supports the needs of our times.

Abstract: This article presents an approach for the preparation of a feasible master plan for a proposed polytechnic. It identifies and discusses key steps common to all methods used in the preparation of an institutional master plan. The object is to provide pertinent information to guide the preparation of a master plan that ensures a successful implementation and fulfillment of the institution’s objectives. It was concluded that the adoption and implementation of an appropriate master plan for a named polytechnic greatly facilitates the realization of the institution’s vision and mission.