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| Click here to view a slideshow of the Master Plan renderings. |
Phase one of Randolph-Macon College’s Campus Master Plan is about to begin. Development of the Plan, which was approved in February 2009 by the college’s Board of Trustees, was a collaborative process involving faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees and members of the surrounding community.
“It has been quite exciting to consider the college’s future and create an insightful plan for the campus,” said R-MC President Robert R. Lindgren. “This plan is intended to take the college well into the next 20 to 30 years by suggesting the best use of the college’s land and facility resources.”
Priorities for the initial phase of implementing the campus master plan consist of several projects centered on academics, athletics and student life. These include:
- the addition of wet labs to and renovation of Copley Science Center;
- an addition to McGraw-Page Library giving students 24/7 access to a new study space;
- a residence hall for upper-class students bordered on the south end of the football stadium;
- a new residence hall for freshmen near the Freshman Village;
- the construction of new tennis courts;
- the creation of new baseball and practice fields;
- the construction of a new, centerpiece football stadium with all-season turf; and
- expanded areas for parking.
- Relocation of Athletic Facilities
The first change that will take place is the relocation of Smith Street. The road, which currently runs between the men’s varsity soccer field and the football practice field, will be moved about a block north, allowing for the expansion of athletic amenities. New landscaping is part of the Plan, and trees are scheduled to be planted along the new Smith Street location before May 2010.
Once Smith Street is relocated, in April 2010, the baseball field will be moved to the corner of the college property, where the Kappa Sigma Fraternity house and the old Smith Street previously resided. The move will improve the experience of athletes and fans by de-coupling the football and baseball fields. The football field will be moved to a north-south position. Once additional funds are raised, a new stadium to surround the football field will be built
Also planned is the relocation of the college’s tennis courts. The brand-new courts will still be located on the west side of the railroad tracks, but further south, near the Ashland train station. The new location will also provide local residents with a venue for tennis that will be maintained by the college. The design of the courts was completed in December 2009 and construction is slated to begin in spring 2010. A practice field is planned for the space currently occupied by the existing tennis courts.
New Residence Halls Planned
Plans are also in place to build additional student housing, including residence halls for freshmen and senior students bordering the new football field. Renderings of these proposed new residence halls are currently under development.
Renovation of Academic Facilities
Renovations to classroom spaces in Fox Hall were completed in 2009. The renovations includes refurbishing the classrooms with new furniture, upgrading the audio visual equipment, wireless capabilities and lighting, and installing new windows and doors.
The College has worked with architects to design a new 4,000 square foot pavilion to the east of McGraw-Page Library. The first floor of the library pavilion will offer a reading room with internet access which can be cordoned off from the rest of the facility to allow 24-hour access to the students. The additional area on the second floor of the pavilion will provide much-needed classroom space.
The initial phase of the Master Plan also includes the addition of a wet lab building to the Copley Science Center, along with renovations to the current structure.
Preserving Architecture and the Environment
Important components of the Master Plan are the preservation of the environment as well as the utilization of classic architecture and open pedestrian vistas that are central to the layout of the campus. The college owns a four-acre portion of property south of Mullen Drive that is wetland, and R-MC’s Project Management Team has met with environmental officials to agree upon boundaries of the wetland, and to determine how best to preserve this space in its natural state.
To view a slideshow of renderings of these new initiatives, click here:
R-MC’s Strategic Plan
Improving facilities is the first goal in Randolph-Macon’s 2009-2017 Strategic Plan entitled: Now is the Time: Expanding our Tradition of Excellence.
To read more about R-MC’s Strategic Plan, click here.