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Introduction |
The Campus Master Plan for Mississippi State University was adopted in 2003 to provide guidelines for the orderly growth and development of the campus over the next 20 years. The plan is not an exact blueprint and will be revised and updated from time to time, but it does establish a vision for the campus of the future that will influence decisions about road and street development, building site selection, and expansion of the utility and information technology infrastructure, among other issues. The plan embraces a philosophy of an increasingly pedestrian-friendly environment with limited vehicular access to the central campus. It calls for continued development of a loop road system that will provide access to the main campus and to parking lots and proposed parking garages from all directions. The master plan establishes a historic district zone in the central campus to preserve the architectural character of the area and uses the concept of zoning to locate related academic programs in proximity to each other. Sections of the plan also are devoted to student housing, recreation, intercollegiate athletics facilities, and administrative functions, as well. The master plan also incorporates a commitment to use the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) voluntary rating system in the design and construction of campus buildings. LEED emphasizes strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality and offers certification of projects that substantially meet the prescribed goals. MSU's Campus Master Plan was developed by Foil-Wyatt architects and planners of Jackson, Miss., in consultation with a broad cross section of university administrators, faculty, staff and students. |