The findings of the analysis and the program phase became the basis for continuing design work.  Numerous options were developed for alternative building sites throughout the campus.  These were reviewed and revised by the Task Force through October of 2000.  The resulting plan, which emerged from this process, has the following significant features:

1.  A totally internal loop road system, with campus parking distributed along the loop.  The loop road improves campus circulation and addresses successfully the challenges of way-finding in two important ways:  it provides clear and coherent routing to reach desired destinations and creates a route which is perceptually rich and engaging.  This includes attractive academic and residential buildings plus parking structures from which visitors enter the pedestrian-oriented campus.

2.       A new, ceremonial entrance in keeping with a major research university status.  Arriving at the main entrance along N.C. Highway 49, visitors confront a crescent-shaped row of academic buildings arranged along a similarly shaped drive.  This initial encounter with the University displays on a grand scale the institutional commitment to all aspects of academic life in an open and inviting setting.

3.       Options for building sites that consider the importance of open space.

·         The network of open spaces is preserved and enhanced.

·         Existing open spaces of good quality should be highlighted.  Open spaces that are of mediocre quality should be rehabilitated.

·         Architectural designs should support and improve the open spaces in a low-scale campus environment.

4.       Optimization of the dramatic topographic changes with the distinctions between hilltop, slopes, and flood plain.  Using the existing building placement and respecting natural topography, a new north/south axis is created.  New academic buildings are located along this axis, which is visually reinforced by a landscaped allee and a series of coherent open spaces.  At the end of the north axis and within easy access of the new loop road is a new complex of student housing with playing fields and natural areas. 

5.       Expansion of the campus core from 80 to 200 acres.  The new plan creates additional building sites and quadrangles within the academic core which reinforce the prevailing sense of community and common purpose.  These urbane, humanely scaled spaces encourage students, faculty, and visitors to intermingle with one another for the purpose of sharing knowledge, experiences, and viewpoints.  Pedestrian walkways are integrated into the core to enable quick and easy access between buildings and provide pedestrians in-route with clear signage and pleasing vistas.  These dense urban arrangements help frame the natural areas contained within the quadrangles.

6.       Phased growth over a 20-year period.  The phasing is divided into four even increments.

7.       Provision for twenty percent of the students to live on campus in collegial, residential environments.  On campus housing is planned for 6,370 students.  For the first time, this will include graduate student housing and residential facilities for visiting scholars and other important guests.  All new student housing will be placed on the northern part of the campus.  This location will be in close proximity to the pedestrian/service road in order to ensure a strong sense of community.  As in the past, a prudent balance between convenience and security will be maintained.  The four high-rise dormitories for undergraduates will be imploded in accordance with the 10-year schedule.

8.       Development of a new, discrete research campus on U.S. Highway 29 programmatically and physically linked to the main campus.  The new Charlotte Institute research complex on the west campus provides persons traveling on U.S. Highway 29 with a vision of UNC Charlotte as a major research university devoted to working collaboratively with local industry, professional organizations, faculty colleagues, and graduate students.  Buildings are placed to take advantage of the area’s topography, to stimulate collaborative research, and to establish close ties between the east and west campuses.  The mainstay of this east/west linkage will be a constellation of new academic buildings for instruction, research and support services.

9.       The plan suggests that Toby Creek be developed as a naturalistic watercourse providing both storm water management and environmental educational opportunities.  In terms of topography, campus buildings located on the east campus and on the west campus are sited on UNC Charlotte’s high ground.  Between the two hills is a valley highlighted by recreational fields and wooded areas with a series of small ponds.  While respecting the environmentalist concern for protecting natural places on the campus, this water feature will be further enhanced to make it a more prominent aspect of the campus landscape.  Pedestrian walkways and bike paths will also crisscross the valley floor at several points, connecting the eastern and western segments of the campus.

10.   Settings for both intramural and varsity athletics in the Toby Creek flood plain.  This provides close proximity for the residential areas.  On-going maintenance and management functions are simplified.