Message from President Rick Hurley about the Master Plan

Thank you to all of the individuals who have provided comments, critiques and suggestions regarding the major proposals put forth in the “DRAFT Master Plan.” Your feedback has prompted the University and its architects to review and modify the plan in several ways. A major change is the fact that the University will, over the next eight to nine months, develop a “University Preservation Plan.” Assistant Professor Michael Spencer of the department of historic preservation will be the primary investigator and author of the preservation plan. A steering committee has been appointed to oversee the process and provide assistance where and when needed. The steering committee is made up of the following:

Richard Pearce, Chair, Acting V.P. for Administration and Finance
Andrea Smith, Faculty, Department of Historic Preservation
Steven Greenlaw, Faculty, Economics Department
Melina Patterson, Faculty, Geography Department
Douglas Searcy, V.P. for Student Affairs
John Wiltenmuth, Assistant V.P. for Facilities Services
Two UMW students to be named

In addition, Professor Spencer and the committee will be provided support from a staff member of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources Management.

Progress on the plan will be posted to this website on a regular basis.

The Mary Washington campus is beautiful. No question about it. Other than the quality of the learning that students experience, the physical attractiveness of the campus is cited as one of the university’s most valuable assets. To preserve that beauty while looking toward the future, UMW last year engaged a team of campus planners from the firm, Burt Hill, to develop a Campus Master Plan that would ensure the aesthetic and architectural cohesiveness of the campus.

Master planning is essential for higher education institutions. Mary Washington’s last master plan guided campus development from the late 1990s through the first decade of this millennium. The current effort will inform Mary Washington’s development over the next 10 to 15 years. Rather than approach campus growth and improvement haphazardly, the master plan provides a framework that will accomplish several vital goals:

  • Establish a direction for facilities growth and renewal.
  • Maintain the architectural integrity of the campus.
  • Define campus boundaries and points of entry.
  • Reinforce the pedestrian character of the campus.
  • Enhance the green space and quality of landscaping.
  • Improve campus navigation and parking.

One of the features of a master planning process is that it details the deficiencies of the campus and explores key questions. Are there enough classrooms and labs? How can the historical attributes of the campus be enhanced? Can the dining halls accommodate the number of students, faculty, and staff that need to be fed? Is parking adequate and are parking facilities in the right places? What is the condition of the residence halls and is renovation feasible to bring them up to current ADA standards? Can green space be improved?

The purpose of the master plan is not to identify facilities for demolition but rather to assess each building’s ability to support critical campus functions over a finite period of time. If buildings are deemed inadequate, a range of options is explored, from renovation to replacement. If replacement is regarded as the most appropriate step, maintaining the existing architecture is a paramount consideration.

Another reason for master planning is to remain on par with our peer institutions. In order to continue to attract top-notch students, UMW needs to stay abreast of prospective students’ expectations. Let’s face it: Mary Washington is an aging campus and many of its buildings have lost their functionality. For instance, the campus needs a community gathering space that combines programming with the food experiences. We have hundreds of organizations and clubs that expect space to meet and plan. We have none.

Please bear in mind that a master plan is just that: a plan. No decisions have been made and probably will not be made for some time. We welcome your input.