Plan Development
The University is a unique asset to New Hampshire and represents a significant capital investment in the future of our state. To ensure that investment is maximized and coordinated, the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) requests each campus update its physical plan every ten years. This ensures a comprehensive development foundation and ongoing planning processes enlightened by prior Strategic, Academic and Master Plans. These planning processes, combined with strong leadership, keep UNH well positioned for the changing dynamics of higher education.
2023-4 Campus Master Plan Update
Defining the Future of UNH!
Updated December 2024
The University of New Hampshire began its current Campus Master Plan update in summer 2023. Numerous stakeholder and working groups have provided input over the course of the past three semesters to bring the plan to a draft which has been presented to leadership and USNH Trustees for initial review and critique.
The Executive Director of the Campus Stewardship & University Architect recently held both UNH Community and Durham Community Forums presented the draft UNH Master Plan and they were well attended. Thank you to all who participated and below are link to the community forums.
Campus Master Plan Forums -December 4, 2024
Session I (afternoon) - UNH Community (presentation begins at approximately 16:53)
Session II (evening) - Town of Durham - (presentation begins at approximately 16:23)
To view the PDF formatted Forum Presentation Here
Background
The Campus Master Plan will guide campus development to ensure the physical campus supports and advances set forth in our strategic plan "The Future of UNH: Four Strategic Priorities"
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Enhance Student Success & Well Being
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Expand Academic & Research Excellence
- Embrace New Hampshire
- Build Financial Strength
A Master Plan is the result of extensive collaboration, consultation, and thoughtful input from all campus stakeholders. It is shared vision created by and for the UNH community. To guide our dynamic campus development, the University has a tradition of plan updates every ten years (our last plan was adopted in 2013) This plan is being crafted in coordination with our sister institutions in the University System and includes review of the Manchester campus as well as the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
Creating the new Master Plan will follow a process of campus engagement during which hundreds of individuals will be engaged in meetings, focus groups, interviews and community forums. The process will also include extensive analysis of building and facility use, land use, natural systems, mobility and transportation systems, program accommodations, sustainability and other areas. The process is intended to give all stakeholders- students, faculty, staff and others - multiple opportunities to contribute ideas and feedback.
In summer 2023, Perkins&Will was selected as lead consultant in this planning process. Since the selection they have been engaging all members of the UNH community throughout the planning process, including community-wide surveys, individual and group interviews, and workshops.
Current plans call for plan finalization in winter 2024-25 and presentation to the USNH Trustees in April 2025.
Campus Master Plans In Recent Decades
Previously adopted in 1994, 2004, and 2012 the Master Plan is a living document written from a point in time. Implementation occurs incrementally and strategically as funding becomes available with the Plan serving as a flexible blueprint. Capital planning and specific project implementation is facilitated by the Campus Planning Office and Facilities Project Management whose website can provide further detail about near term projects and activities.
USNH policies require a comprehensive long-range plan that will guide the physical development of an institution for 20 or more years. As a final product the master plan is a comprehensive development strategy that establishes goals and objectives and incorporates specific building space needs, transportation improvements, land use requirements, and a landscape master plan. The effort looked not only at the core campus, but all of the outlying University properties in Durham, Lee and Madbury.
2012 Campus Master Plan
The 2012 Campus Master Plan was endorsed by President Huddleston and subsequently approved by the USNH Board of Trustees in fall 2013 - in coordination with other University System campus plan updates. The approved plan maintains the goals, recommendations, and projects presented to the Durham and Campus community in fall 2012. The document served as a light update of the ‘04 Master Plan.
Plan Development
The Plan benefited greatly from active community participation and dialog over the course of 18 months. The University was tasked with bringing forth bold initiatives and critically evaluating future. Steering and Master Plan Committees provided leadership to the consulting team lead by Architerra Associates.
Our Plan development was focused on core goals including reviewing space utilization, forging alignment with the 2010 Academic Plan and developing strategies to ensure the institution's flexibility in adjusting to multiple (growth and resource) scenarios over the next two decades. This was blended with refinement of scope and detail on key issues such as a future Center for the Arts, campus growth and development strategies, public-private ventures, graduate and family housing and academic building utilization and reuse.
The 2012 Plan is part of a comprehensive development foundation and ongoing planning process enlightened by prior Strategic, Academic and Master Plans. These policies, combined with strong leadership, keep the University of New Hampshire well positioned for the changing dynamics of higher education.
