Christian Brothers University - Cultural Vision Plan
Christian Brothers University is a tight-knit community of passionate and energetic students, faculty, and staff, but feel that their existing physical campus does not reflect that same energy. Built in the 1960s with heavy concrete and brick buildings, the campus is disconnected and heavily car-focused. It feels like a transition, not a place to gather and collaborate. The cultural vision plan responds to these concerns by re-imagining existing spaces on campus into new places that better meet the needs of the community.
Through a series of visioning meetings with various stakeholders, including students, faculty, and staff, five goals were established: better connectivity, density, choice, hospitality, and holistic thinking. Key areas of campus were identified and re-imagined with these objectives in mind.
The façades of several buildings, including the student center, library, and a central classroom building, were opened up to provide better visibility and more opportunities for chance encounters and impromptu conversations. New walking paths were proposed to connect new and existing green space and create a more pedestrian-friendly and interconnected campus. Parking lots are pushed to the outer edges to create a central focus on the heart of campus and encourage interaction between commuters and residents on campus. Overall, the vision plan imagines a campus that is a physical expression of the creativity and connection already established by the community.
