The site as of 2015 at the Michigan State University East Lansing campus. Image from Google Earth.
For my senior design project, I chose to rethink what our central campus could be. The current campus core as seen in the map is dominated by surface parking lots.
As thinkers and designers, we think about future. Does this type of landscape plan serve the mission of the university? Do we have the physical environment ready for the challenges of future? Do we need a giant parking lot at the core of our campus?
The Master Plan
The plan features a irregular design that brings energy to the campus. The central Innovation Hub serves as the iconography that defines the newly developed place. The irregular site design will create informal meeting space for the students.
Birds eyes view of the central open space
The proposed monorail passes through the open space that links the central campus with the Grand River Corridor and the East Lansing Amtrak Station. Even though there is a mobility lost with the removal of the surface parking lot, the new type of transportation will connect the campus to the larger region in Michigan. It also brings energy to the campus.
The view from the sunset stairs overlooking the student plaza. The plaza could serve as an event space for student organizations.
The stair facing the west becomes a massive place for people to rest and watching sunset. The static people above, the moving people below will bring in different levels of speed, motion and sounds that makes the space people space.
The amphitheater overlooking the stormwater treatment wetland. This is a place for contemplation. The location of the wetland is placed near the Red Cedar River according to the natural hydrology of the site.
The deck overlooking the wetland. The berm in the background is a solution to place the extra soil taken from the wetland site.
The central structure takes clue from the cloud and organisms. It serves as an inspiration for the people within and outside.
