Conversations between individuals and campus groups and Queen’s planning partners Urban Strategies Inc. (USI) helped launch the university’s new campus master planning process recently.

“The success of our process depends on conversations with our campus community members,” says Jo-Anne Brady. “This is an opportunity to imagine what our campus could be and determine how it can best meet the needs of the university in the future, supporting the objectives of both the Academic Plan and the Strategic Research Plan.”

These meetings were the first of many to encourage dialogue and support the process leading to an updated Campus Master Plan (CMP).

“Queen’s has a very unique campus, specifically with regard to its geography and 24/7 use,” says Doug Johnson, president of Queen’s Alma Mater Society. “I am very impressed with the approach of Urban Strategies Inc. as they seemed genuinely interested in the student experience and student usage of campus space at Queen’s.”

USI representatives will engage with different stakeholders in a variety of ways over the coming months. These include: on-campus, off-campus and virtual forums like town halls, workshops, open houses, meetings, polls and postings on the project Facebook, Twitter and blog sites. Interviews, small focus groups and consultation events to inform key decisions will provide further opportunities for engagement with the process.

The first targeted discussions with the City of Kingston and Kingston General Hospital are scheduled for later this month, along with continued conversations with members of the campus community.

Both the Queen’s and Kingston communities are encouraged to attend a presentation on January 29 by Joe Berridge of USI entitled, “The Campus in the Community.” Mr. Berridge will draw on his experience in urban design and planning of campuses across Canada, the US and the UK to suggest ways in which Queen’s and its host community can make the most from their historic relationship.

For more information or to submit a comment on any aspect of the campus master planning process visit the CMP website.