Master Plan FAQs – November 2005

What is OSU’s campus master plan?
The campus master plan will guide growth and construction at OSU over the next 5 to 20 years. It is important OSU has a vision for the future as it enters an unprecedented period of growth.

The $500 million in anticipated new construction for academic and athletic facilities over the next decade rivals in scope and magnitude the successful MAPS program in Oklahoma City and the Vision 2025 program in Tulsa.

The economic impact to Stillwater would be unparalleled in the history of the city and the benefits to OSU in having the absolute finest research and learning facilities as well as athletic facilities would be transforming in moving OSU into the top 75 public institutions in the United States.

The OSU master plan – the first in nearly eight decades – will provide an orderly and organized approach to managing the growth of the Stillwater campus.

Why is it important?
The campus master plan will successfully marry OSU’s heritage, history, culture and long-standing values with its current mission, needs, status and strategic plan. The new plan will address facilities needs, utilities, traffic patterns, parking facilities, athletics, student housing and landscaping.

OSU has one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation and that is a result of the original Bennett Plan first developed in the 1920s. As we look to expand in the future, it is critical that we have a well-thought plan to guide us.

When was the last campus master plan at OSU?
This is the first OSU campus plan since the original campus master plan drafted by OSU President Henry G. Bennett in the late 1920s. That plan went through subsequent changes, but it set the course to create the beautiful campus we have today.

Who ran the master plan process?
The university brought in one of the nation’s leading architectural firms, the Benham Companies, to lead the effort. Benham, based in Oklahoma City, employs a number of OSU graduates, who brought their passion for their alma mater to the process. A stakeholder team of some 30 people representing faculty, staff, students, the city and community helped gather input and develop the plan over the past eight months.

What guided the development of the master plan?
The stakeholder team followed a list of guiding principles:

• Incorporate Bennett Plan design principles
• Embrace recognized sustainable principles
• Enhance core vitality and synergy
• Value special buildings and spaces
• Promote safety and security through design
• Prioritize interdisciplinary interaction on campus
• Establish campus gateways
• Incorporate aesthetics and art throughout the campus
• Improve wayfinding through frequent and visible signage
• Encourage complementary land uses on the perimeter of campus
• Coordinate campus and community development

Have you sought feedback from the campus and community?
Yes. We sought feedback through the entire process. In addition to feedback from the OSU Board of Regents, the administration and the stakeholder group, we held more than 50 public meetings that allowed the city, members of the community, faculty and students to comment. That feedback has helped us create the current plan.

What happens to the plan now?
We currently are making changes and gathering additional input with the goal of presenting a plan to the OSU Board of Regents for approval at their January 27 th meeting. Once approved, the plan will remain flexible and could undergo changes that are consistent with our guiding principles, but it will serve as the blueprint for future campus growth and change.

I thought the plan was going to be approved by the Regents at their December meeting?
The university originally planned to present the campus master plan to the Board of Regents in December, but OSU System CEO and President David Schmidly determined additional time was needed to address issues raised during recent community meetings. The additional time will help bring more clarity to the plan. This is an important and exciting step in OSU’s history and we want to make sure the community and our university family fully understand the plan. .

It seems your master plan is primarily about athletics. Is that the case?
Absolutely not. Work at Boone Pickens Stadium and our property purchase currently shine the light on athletics, but the master plan is a comprehensive update of our entire campus. Within the plan, we have nearly a quarter-of-a-billion dollars worth of non-athletic projects under way or planned – a new interdisciplinary science and technology center, a new multi-modal transportation facility, expansion and renovation of our architecture building, new business school building, restoration and renovation of South Murray Hall, a new classroom building, new student housing, the renovation of Old Central, renovation of our veterinary medicine facilities, and a new hospitality management building top the list of projects.

Can you provide the details of your plan to purchase property to create an athletic village?
The OSU Foundation has begun a careful process to purchase property on a voluntary basis for expansion north of Boone Pickens Stadium.

The build-out of the athletic village will occur in two phases – a near-term plan over the next three to five years and a long-term plan.

The near-term plan encompasses the area north of Hall of Fame Avenue and south of McElroy Street and between Duck and Washington Streets. Developing this area will help meet our near-term needs to improve our women’s facilities, as well as build an indoor facility for football, baseball, track and other sports.

The long-term area is north of McElroy to Eskridge Street and between Duck and Washington Streets; as well as the area south of McElroy and between Washington and Monroe Streets.

It is important to remember that the plan is long range and will require time to lay the groundwork to move forward with implementation. We have limited dollars to purchase property and while we may not need the land in the long-term area for a number of years, we certainly want to discuss a purchase with property owners in the area who might be interested in selling their property now.

Why do you need an athletic village?
Expanding our athletic facilities is crucial to our national competitiveness. This land purchase will allow OSU to build premier men’s and women’s facilities, including an indoor facility for football, baseball, track and other sports. These new facilities will allow us to host conference and regional tournaments.

Success in athletics generates a number of benefits – valuable national attention, increased donor support for academics and athletics, increased interest from prospective students, a boost in pride and loyalty for all those connected to OSU. New facilities will greatly benefit the local economy, creating jobs and increasing the number of fans and supporters who come to Stillwater and spend dollars with local businesses.

Why can’t you build the athletic village on land OSU owns west of Stillwater?
First, that land is used for research and other agriculture-related purposes. Plus, we think it is important to the vibrancy of the campus and to our student-athletes to keep all our athletic facilities connected. Finally, athletic events bring alumni and fans to our campus, increasing their interaction with the entire university and their potential giving to academics. OSU’s athletic program annually pumps more than $32 million into the local economy.

What if current property owners don’t want to sell?
We are sensitive to current property owners and will work with them to arrive at a fair price. Even though this is a long-range plan, eminent domain remains an option. But we would prefer not to purchase land that way. We want to work with property owners, listen and address their needs, and, most importantly, make sure they receive a fair price for their property. We will be particularly sensitive to owner-occupied homes.

How are you paying for this purchase?
Private funds will be used.

How can you be purchasing land, when you have a huge debt on Gallagher Iba Arena and you are still raising dollars for Boone Pickens Stadium?
Some private funds earmarked for this specific purpose are available for the initial land purchase, so there will be no impact on our athletic budget. As we move forward with facilities, we will begin a broad fund-raising effort where we will address current debt and future needs.

Is this going to increase your athletic debt level?
No. Because we have the money to make the initial land purchase, there will be no impact on our athletic budget and no increase in debt.

What are your plans for Hall of Fame Avenue?
Because it is a construction safety zone, Hall of Fame must remain closed as we complete work in and around Boone Pickens Stadium and as we build facilities north of the stadium. The university will work with the city to address the long-term future of Hall of Fame as well as other options for east-west traffic flow in Stillwater.

Are you doing anything to offset the loss of tax dollars to Stillwater Public Schools?
We have held discussions with Stillwater Public Schools regarding the interim tax revenue loss and are working to help minimize the impact. Owners living in the purchase area will most likely locate elsewhere in Stillwater and the school district’s overall tax revenue will be minimized in the long run.

What is the financial impact on the city and county?
The minimal loss in tax revenue will be more than offset by a boost to the economy from expanded athletic facilities and the substantial economic impact over the next ten to fifteen years generated by more than $500 million in new construction.

Campus Master Plan

Across the OSU System

OSU-Tulsa
OSU-Okmulgee
OSU-Oklahoma City
OSU-Center for Health Sciences