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The Campus Design Charrette in May 2006 at Western Michigan University was initiated and organized by Evie Asken, Director of Campus Planning. The purpose of the Charrette was to study and develop concepts for rejuvenating the two major open spaces on the Western Michigan University campus: the Miller Plaza and the West Michigan Mall (the east-west corridor formed by the former West Michigan Avenue). New construction and renovations to existing buildings in these two areas are altering campus pedestrian patterns and are likely to change open space requirements. In planning to date, engineers have determined that storm water collection on campus must be handled more efficiently and, in keeping with today's standards, must be approached in a more sustainable manner. The physical plant staff have identified significant maintenance issues relating to the campus hardscape. Additionally, the architects for the construction and renovation projects are faced with altering building entrances, to both accommodate existing conditions and match new conditions after construction. These and other factors contribute to an opportunity to physically and visually enhance the campus open spaces, to plan for efficient and user-friendly pedestrian circulation, and to plan for and coordinate activities in and around the buildings surrounding the West Michigan Mall and the Plaza. |
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The Campus Design Charrette was organized as a day-long planning session with four design teams composed of practicing architects, architecture students and faculty, and WMU students. In the weeks prior to the Charrette participants were provided with a comprehensive assortment of preparatory materials and information on the existing conditions, including campus maps and photographs, and summaries of the most important issues relating to use and function, maintenance, and aesthetics. The morning of May 19 everyone met in a classroom in Dunbar Hall for introductions and "planning philosophies". WMU planning staff, projects architects, engineers, and physical plant staff were on hand throughout the day to answer questions, act as campus guides, and assist the teams as needed. The teams then assembled in assigned "workrooms", setting up computers and laying out drawings and plans before walking the campus. For most participants this was their first visit to WMU, and it was the first opportunity for the teams to evaluate the campus as a group. At the end of the day the teams presented their concepts in the Dunbar classroom. The presentations were in every format, ranging from free-hand sketches to chipboard site models to digital imaging, 3D modeling and Power Point displays. Notes from design presentations In June, 2006, Campus Planning Director Evie Asken presented a summary of the ideas and concepts generated in the Charrette to the Faculty Senate's Campus Planning and Finance Council (CPFC). Presentation to the CPFC (pdf. file; 2.3MB) The concepts generated by the four charrette teams, while very different in style and substance, had several ideas and observations in common:
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