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Principles

Part I: Vision & Principles

1.0 Introduction

The Master Plan for the University Park Campus is based both on the vision of the University and on a vision of the campus, specific and unique to University Park. Subsequent principles, concepts, and guidelines follow from these statements and incorporate key values and attributes of both the institution and the place. The material is organized in a sequential manner, each segment following from the previous one to assure continuity with the central ideas. The primary components are as follows.

University Mission

The mission statement represents the guiding purpose and ideals, which the campus supports. It is excerpted directly from Pennsylvania State University’s Academic Excellence: Planning for the Twenty-first Century.

University Park Physical Vision

This vision, unique to University Park, embodies the most central ideas of the campus. In summary form it provides a compelling set of expectations which the master plan serves.

Key Principles

A series of Key Principles emerge from the vision as intrinsic “truths” that determine the function, structure, and character of the campus. Achievement of these Principles is essential to fulfill the vision. The Principles are accompanied by attributes that briefly describe the key values, characteristics, or physical precedents specific to University Park and become tools for the master plan. The attributes are organized in relation to the vision element from which they are drawn.

System Concepts

Linking the principles and guidelines are a series of systems concepts. Each system represents physical elements that are spatially and functionally related. Each system concept reflects components that are related to the principles. These concepts function to translate the principles into major design ideas. Singular concepts appropriately support several of the vision elements. Because of these multiple associations, the concepts are organized into a different set of categories than the key principles for greater ease of access and succinctness. The primary systems that comprise the campus are:

  1. Open Space and Natural Systems
  2. Pedestrian Circulation Systems
  3. Vehicular and Bicycle Circulation Systems
  4. Architectural Systems
  5. Service and Utility Systems
  6. Campus-wide Land Use Systems

Design Guidelines

The Design Guidelines outline specific actions or design criteria for subsequent design efforts. They fulfill the concepts and implement them in campus-wide applications or, in some cases, special subcampus areas. These guidelines are organized by the systems with which they are associated.

Definitions and Level of Detail

The following diagram summarizes the sequential order in which this document is organized, defines terms and levels of detail.

Structure Definition
Mission The most elemental statement of purpose.
Vision A singular idea that encapsulates the mission or purpose and character of the institution.
Key Principle Fundamental or basic “truth” that decide(s) the essential characteristics of the vision. It determines central function or structure that must be achieved to succeed in meeting the vision. They provide the basics for concepts and strategies.
System Concept A construct or abstraction that defines an approach. These are strategies (designs) to achieve the principles.
Design Guideline A guide to specific conduct or course of action. These fulfill the concepts and implement them in campus-wide applications.

1.1 University Mission Statement

In order for the Master Plan to be effective, it is essential that it be consistent with and build upon the University’s mission. In order to achieve a solid foundation and sense of continuity, the Vision Statement defined in Academic Excellence: Planning for the Twenty-first Century (date) was used. This statement reads as follows:

PENN STATE WILL BE ONE OF THE NATION’S FINEST UNIVERSITIES AND LEAD OTHERS IN THE INTEGRATION OF TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND OUTREACH.

OUR DISTINCTION WILL LIE IN OUR ACADEMIC QUALITY, OUR CONTINUOUS QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE, THE INTEGRATION OF OUR MISSIONS, OUR RESPONSIVENESS TO THE PUBLIC WE SERVE, AND THE SENSITIVITY OF OUR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY TO ALL OF ITS MEMBERS. OUR REPUTATION WILL ATTRACT STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, GARNER GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND CORPORATE RESEARCH SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGE STRONG PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN PENN STATE.

EXCELLENCE IN EACH OF OUR MISSIONS IS SUPPORTED GREATLY BY THE INTEGRATION OF TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND OUTREACH. FACULTY RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP KEEPS INSTRUCTION IN ALL OF ITS FORMS AT THE LEADING EDGE OF A FIELD AND AFFORDS SPECIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS. TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES HELP TO ORIENT KNOWLEDGE-GENERATING ACTIVITIES TOWARD THE USERS OF KNOWLEDGE. OUTREACH BOTH EXTENDS THE FORUM FOR TEACHING AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH. WE WILL PROMOTE THESE INTERRELATIONSHIPS TO ENHANCE PENN STATE’S IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE THE UNIVERSITY SERVES.

1.2 University Park Physical Vision Statement

The vision for the Physical Campus is to achieve a “model physical environment that exemplifies the University’s vision of excellence and enhances Penn State as a “distinguished learning community”. We envision a campus that...

  1. Embodies Penn State’s commitment to the Land Grant mission of the University by design that supports the integration of Teaching, Research, Outreach, Creative Accomplishment, and Service; by celebrating its rural heritage; and by reflections conveying a highly accessible education.
  2. Emphasizes the student by enriching the student experience through the exemplary and memorable quality of the physical environment that accommodates and enhances their daily academic and campus-life activities, accentuating them as vibrant, enticing and vital.
  3. Embraces Penn State’s uniqueness and identity by preserving and enhancing the best architectural, landscape, and planning qualities of the historical core campus; a “campus in the fields” character, human-scaled spaces and buildings, quadrangles, academic neighborhoods, tree-lined paths, and pastoral lawns.
  4. Promotes the University’s commitment to the surrounding community by establishing welcoming and mutually beneficial physical relationships between campus and the surrounding community.
    5. Integrates the physical requirements and visions of the Colleges and support units with the overall vision for the University Park campus.

1.3 Key Principles

Based upon the University Park Physical Vision Statement and related Vision Components, a number of Key Principles have evolved. These Principles define basic truths which must be achieved if the vision is to succeed. The Principles are listed below as subsets under each of the five Vision Components. Following each Principle Statement is a list of existing campus attributes. These attributes identify campus characteristics that are already in place and provide a basic foundation for achieving the Principle.

  1. Embodies Penn State’s commitment to the Land Grant mission of the University by design that supports the integration of Teaching, Research, Outreach, Creative Accomplishment, and Service; by celebration of its rural heritage; and by reflections conveying a highly accessible education.

    • Principle 1A: Academic Values

      Embody the University’s academic values in its physical setting by supporting activities that are central to the core mission; instruction, research and service.

      Attributes to build upon:

      • High quality and stimulating learning environment
      • Strong and visible resesarch component and identifiable academic districts
      • Easily accessible public service facilities such as museums and theaters for the students, faculty, staff and public.

    • Principle 1B: Rural Heritage

      Embrace the rural heritage of the Land Grant Institution by promoting a strong agricultural image.

      Attributes to build upon:

      • One of the most prominent agricultural schools in the country
      • An agricultural setting that is a vital part of Penn State's image
      • An imageable rural/campus interface

    • Principle 1C: Accessible Campus

      Create an accessible and accepting campus environment.

      Attributes to build upon:

      • Campus edges that are open to the community, yet defined
      • Campus roads and pedestrian malls that create continuity in pedestrian patterns and activities between campus and community
      • Educational and cultural resources that are open and accessible to the community

  2. Emphasizes the student by enriching the student experience through the exemplary and memorable quality of the physical environment that accommodates and enhances their daily academic and campus-life activities, accentuating them as vibrant, enticing and vital.

    • Principle 2A: High Quality Environment

      Create a high quality physical environment that supports and increases the mix and distribution of activities and spaces that have significant and memorable association with the Penn State experience.

      Attributes to build upon:

      • "Sacred places" and physical icons such as Old Main and Old Main Lawn, Patee Mall, HUG Lawn, Rec Hall, and the Nittany Lion Sculpture
      • Traditions such as Nittany Lion football, the dance marathon, and the Creamery

    • Principle 2B: Student-Oriented Campus Core

      Create a safe, healthy, and vibrant student-oriented campus reflective of the total learning experience

      Attributes to build upon

      • A vibrant and pedestrian-oriented campus core
      • Activity nodes located and visible along major pedestrian corridors
      • An existing system of walks and malls that is easy to understand
      • A variety of open spaces and experiences
      • A distribution of campus activities and housing
      • Links to natural features, both on and off campus
      • Links to an active downtown

  3. Embraces Penn State’s uniqueness and identity by preserving and enhancing the best architectural, landscape, and planning qualities of the historical core campus; a “campus in the fields” character, human-scaled spaces and buildings, quadrangles, academic neighborhoods, tree-lined paths, and pastoral lawns.

    • Principle 3A: Unique Physical Setting

      Celebrate and promote the rich and unique physical setting of the campus.

      Attributes to build upon:

      • Expansive views to and from surrounding natural features
      • A "Campus on the hill" presence
      • A "Campus in the fields" character

    • Principle 3B: Campus Image

      Create a strong and compelling campus image that is distinctive, yet inviting, and characteristic of an organized, coherent, high quality institution.

      Attributes to build upon:

      • Coherent campus edges, visually discernible from while compatible with the surrounding land use.
      • Precincts and neighborhoods with unique character and quality
      • Lawns and tree-lined paths
      • North-south orientation of Mall structure opening up to community
      • Linear circulation routes
      • Well established grid pattern providing strong sense of order
      • Human-scaled buildings and open spaces
      • Key buildings with civic qualities

    • Principle 3C: Historic Facilities and Patterns

      Preserve, protect, and build upon historic facilities and patterns that contribute to the cultural and functional environment.

      Attributes to build upon:

      • Defining and memorable historic structures such as Old Main and University House that project images of tradition and dignity
      • Structures with intrinsic historical value, such as the Centre Furnace and Mansion
      • Historic Malls and lawns
      • Notable quadrangles such as West Halls
      • Historic event marker signs

  4. Promotes the University’s commitment to the surrounding community by establishing welcoming and mutually beneficial physical relationships between campus and the surrounding community.

    • Principle 4A: Campus and Town Relationships

      Enhance the physical relationship between campus and town by facilitating accessibility and movement between the two. Encourage interactions by sponsoring public cultural events and other educational/visitor-oriented activities and opportunities.

      Attributes to build upon:

      • Open, porous campus edges
      • General scale compatibility between campus and surrounding neighborhoods
      • Strong Campus interface along College Avenue
      • Road and pedestrian connections

    • Principle 4B: Environmental Stewardship

      Demonstrate environmental stewardship by respecting sensitive natural and cultural areas and promoting environmentally responsible practices.

      Attributes to build upon:

      • Valuable aquatic and wetland habitats such as Spring Creek, Millbrook Marsh and the Duck Pond
      • Unique local topography and land forms such as Big Hollow
      • Unique historical and archaeological sites
      • Remnant forests such as those of Hort Woods

  5. Integrates the physical requirements and visions of the Colleges and support units with the overall vision for the University Park campus.

    • Principle 5A: Individual Units and Campus

      Balance the needs of individual academic units with the need to protect and promote the quality of the overall campus.

      Attributes to build upon:

      • Strong connections and relationships regarding activity, discipline, space and form between individual buildings
      • Sensitivity to environmental context
      • Appropriate integration and balance of buildings and open space

1.4 Systems

In order to achieve the University Park Vision, the Key Principles must be achieved. The thirteen Principles previously outlined reflect the full spectrum of the physical campus and offer a basis for defining the systems that are affected. Each Principle has been reviewed and its related systems identified. The systems provide a mechanism for ensuring Principles recognition and implementation. Following are the primary systems that comprise the campus:

1.4.1 System and Principle Relations

The primary relationship between the principles and systems are summarized in the following matrix.

Key Principles Systems
Open Space and Natural System Pedestrian Circulation System Vehicular Circulation System Architectural System Service & Utilities System Campus-wide Land Use System
1A: Academic Values            
1B: Rural Heritage            
1C: Accessible Campus            
2A: High Quality Environment            
2B: Student-Oriented Campus Core            
3A: Unique Physical Setting            
3B: Campus Image            
3C: Historic Patterns            
4A: Campus and Town            
4B: Environmental Stewardship            
5A: Units and Campus            

Systems affected by a Principle shaded red.