Architect Unveils Plans for campus along the HSR Corridor

[tufsu1]

or maybe there could be a covered arcade for all the buildings, like at the University of Virginia!

[thelakelander]

What about if a student or visitor wanted to walk across the street to an "off-campus" bookstore, bar or restaurant?  What about if someone wanted to walk from their off campus apartment to a class on this campus? 

[tufsu1]

I agree with that issue....but sadly, none of the universities developed in Florida from 1950 on have taken that into consideration...they have all started with buildings in the center of a large piece of land....only now is UCF reaching its campus edge.

[Overstreet]

What about if a student or visitor wanted to walk across the street to an "off-campus" bookstore, bar or restaurant?  What about if someone wanted to walk from their off campus apartment to a class on this campus? 

Students will find a way to the off campus bar.

When I went ot UNF you could walk from your off campus apartment to class.  ...............with connecting car travel.

When I went to a great northern institution the winter was a bit grim. However I mapped my route to go through several warming buildings and a couple of tunnels. You can do that with airconditioning too.

[thelakelander]

^of course they will.  They will drive.

[stjr]

Some people here need to visit a college and refresh what its like to be student. 

First, student unions, admin buildings, bookstore, registrar, rec center, and other central services, eateries, etc. that appeal to everyone are typically (or should be) located  in the center, especially on a newly planned campus.  That cuts nearly all 3/4 mile walks down to 3/8 mile.  Classes around a given discipline/department/school are usually in the same or adjacent buildings.  So the only real walk is mostly likely the entry level students taking the core curriculum spread across various departments.  Consider that classes meet at intermittent times across the day and week, and I doubt there will be many straight walks, without stops for food or back to the dorm, of 3/4 mile (don't ever underestimate the ingenuity of students to engineer their schedules for their own convenience  ). Also, don't forget, many students use bikes, which all college campuses today strive to cater to, for longer travel.

The most important question is where the dorms will be, in the center or around the edges.

Overall, this will be a piece of cake for college age students.  They can use the exercise and are not the wimps we, who are showing our age, make them out to be.  Heck, people walk a lot further at the theme parks with babies and kids in tow.  This is nothing.

I went to college up north and walked these distances and more in the winter with below freezing temps, ice, and snow, and once you get used to it, it can actually be invigorating.  Often, I wished I lived in a city where you do the same.

We sure are getting soft around here.

[thelakelander]

^Except that this campus is supposed to anchor a new urbanist community and possibly a HSR stop.  It looks like the architect forgot about everything outside of official campus borders.  I'll see if I can find a site plan for the Williams DRI.

[thelakelander]

Here is the master site plan for the college and the surrounding property.  An urban village center is supposed to be developed adjacent to the college campus.  From the looks of the design, this center will be separated from the actual college by it's oval surface parking areas.  Anyway, regardless of urbanity and walkability, it should be an architectural masterpiece in an area dominated by strip malls, cheap tract homes and stucco boxes.

College campus (Polk Parkway is to the right)


DRI master plan (Polk Parkway is to the right)

[Captain Zissou]

Some people here need to visit a college and refresh what its like to be student. 

We sure are getting soft around here.

I just graduated in May.  The physical ability to walk that far is not the issue, but nothing ruins your chances with the ladies more than sitting down next to them in class drenched in sweat.  UF has plenty of lengthy walks, but it is mainly for freshman, as you stated.