Riverpoint Campus master plan
Master plan documents
- Overview of 2009 campus academic plan and master plan update (PDF)
- 2000 campus master plan: Complete plan as updated in 2003 (PDF)
- 2000 campus master plan: Executive summary (PDF)
- 2000 campus master plan: Graphic of potential buildout (PDF)
Comments or questions regarding the master plan and the planning process can be sent to spokanemasterplan@wsu.edu.
Planning background
In 2008, the master planning/design team met with units of Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, University of Washington, and Sirti (now known as Innovate Washington) to gather information on program plans that drive capital construction priorities, in particular for the health sciences.
Biomedical and health sciences facilities have been identified by WSU and EWU as the top capital priority to support the need for current and future expansion of health sciences research and teaching programs, the primary focus for the Riverpoint Campus.
The 2009 legislature funded predesign and design for the first building in a biomedical complex--one of WSU’s capital funding priorities for Spokane. Construction funding for the Biomedical/Health Sciences Building is WSU's top capital budget priority in the 2011 legislative session.
The 2009 campus master plan update built on the 2000 master planning process, during which community members expressed interest in a "university district feeling" for the Riverpoint Campus (according to a news release from Feb. 18, 2000).
Community participation in the 2009 master plan update
The community participated in three master plan workshops in March, April, and June 2009 for an update of the Riverpoint Campus plan.
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Workshop #3: June 3, 2009
At the final workshop (June 3), planning consultants showed a number of renderings, giving a taste of what the future might hold.
Over 50 community participants discussed everything from practical street design to facilitate snow removal and the importance of accessibility, to the location of retail and dining services and a network that functions well for all modes of transportation.
A wall graphic developed during the workshop captures some of these comments and ideas, as does a transcript of workshop notes (PDF).
The presentation (PDF) made by planning consultants MIG and NAC Architecture steps through several campus buildout elements, with renderings that give the flavor of what Riverpoint will be like—a much more urban, vertical, and dense campus with strong connections to the Spokane River and downtown core.
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Workshop #2 report: April 23, 2009
The second community workshop held April 23 laid out overarching strategies and a planning framework for the master plan update. Goals and key themes of the master plan update:
- Urban campus (high density, smaller footprints)
- Pedestrian scale walks and malls
- Connections through campus to city, centennial trail, river
- Encourage use of alternative forms of transportation: mass transit, bicycle, pedestrian
- Structured parking
- Enhanced streetscape: reduced width, pedestrian friendly, landscaping
- Sustainable campus
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
Comments coming out of the March 17 that were particularly noted:
- Strengthen connections to the Spokane River
- Locate parking strategically
- Design and construct pedestrian-bike bridge
- Re-design Spokane Falls Boulevard
- Link adjacent areas: CBD, Convention Center, Main, Gonzaga, South U District
Information
Planning consultants' presentation (PDF) and workshop notes (DOC).
A number of the slides show representative images from other cities and campuses to spark discussion—they are not necessarily views of campus today or a proposed design for the future.
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Workshop #1 report: March 17, 2009
At the first community workshop (March 17, 2009) we discussed the emphasis on biomedical/health sciences research and teaching that is the core of the campus focus going forward. In particular, we presented information on space needs for a number of programs that seek to expand to help address critical shortages in the healthcare workforce.
Joseph Bloom, dean emeritus of the School of Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University, discussed the nationwide move to expand education in health care professions—strengths of our current research. He outlined logical next steps in campus growth and development:
– Consolidation of programs:
Move targeted programs from WSU Pullman to WSU Spokane to take advantage of the regional medical center proximity.
– Cataloging and focus:
Analyze what we already have in health sciences and what we need to add. For example, in medical education we have the first, third and fourth years of medical school, and just need to add second-year medical education to have the complete four-year program. Identify and build target areas of campus and community research strength, e.g. neuroscience of sleep, mental health and addictions .
– Clinical care:
Develop and strengthen relationships with hospitals, clinics, and practitioners.
The comprehensive academic plan (PDF) developed by WSU, Eastern Washington University and Community Colleges of Spokane lays out all our focus areas: health sciences, design/planning, education, and programs that contribute to community viability including economic development.
Other important needs raised in the presentation and participants’ remarks:
– Maintain and expand opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration: Keep a variety of disciplines in close proximity; be careful about separation of buildings or zones.
– Improve pedestrian connections and safety: "Complete streets" design, management of traffic flows (e.g. Spokane Falls Blvd.), and true multimodal transportation choices.
– Emphasize our connection to the river and downtown.
– Have truly mixed-use buildings/complexes, with private businesses as well as classrooms and potentially housing developed through public/private partnerships.
Key Questions
The focus of comments from a number of participants revolved around our many opportunities to connect and collaborate. Participants were invited to address an underlying theme: How do we build in connecting points, connecting spaces, connecting opportunities, in campus design?
Thinking of connections between disciplines, universities, public and private, students and professionals, neighborhoods and campus, the core of downtown and the east end where we are located, the campus and the south University District across the railroad tracks, the campus and the river: How can campus design facilitate the connections and collaborations that are the heart of our campus culture?
– Workshop participants and others submitted responses to these questions:
– What do you consider to be the major assets of the Riverpoint Campus?
– What are the key physical planning challenges and opportunities now and in the future in any of the following categories?
- Mixed Use Development
- Academic and Business relationships
- Connectivity (i.e. pedestrians, bicycles, transit, vehicles)
- Open Space & Recreation
- Campus/Community Relationships
- Services and Amenities (shops, gathering areas, etc.)
- Housing
- Sustainability (including energy utilization, building systems, campus operations, etc.)
- Other
– Additional comments
News Releases
Contacts
General
Terren Roloff
Office: 509-358-7527
Cell: 509-720-6245
terren.roloff@wsu.edu
Parking
Teresa Kruger
Phone: 509-368-6999
rpparking@wsu.edu
Campus-sponsored events
Becki Meehan
Phone: 509-358-7528
rmeehan@wsu.edu