Place Matters - The Longwood University Master Plan 2025

Place Matters

The Longwood University Master Plan 2025

Master Plan 2025

Place Matters

© Longwood University 2016

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Table of Contents LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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INTRODUCTION TO LONGWOOD Longwood University Master Planning Process

10 12 22

ANALYSIS AND DISCOVERY Program Longwood University and the Region The Campus

28 30 36 44

CAMPUS-WIDE FRAMEWORK Introduction Land Use Open Space and Landscape Vehicular Circulation and Parking Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Utilities and Infrastructure The Campus and Sustainability Built Form Key Development Considerations Development Sites

74 76 77 78 96 100 104 107 110 113 114

THE MASTER PLAN Overview, Big Ideas, and Introduction of the Precincts Precinct Plans North Campus Central Campus South Campus Along the Trail Lancer Park Johnston Drive The Illustrative Master Plan Capital Projects and Phasing Other Planning Considerations

116 118 120 122 140 166 172 180 184 186 188 190

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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Longwood University Master Plan

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Letter from the President It is with great pride and pleasure that I present to the Longwood family our new University Master Plan—Place Matters: The Longwood University Master Plan 2025.

A university master plan is a roadmap—a declaration of who we are as an institution and what we intend to become in the years ahead.

Longwood’s campus is one of the great treasures of Virginia and American higher education as a whole, and our responsibility to serve as careful stewards of this place is profound. Doing so requires a mixture of vision and passion, reinforced by careful planning, discipline and technical expertise. The extraordinary amount and quality of work that has gone into this document will be instrumental in preserving what is special about Longwood, and making it even greater, genuinely for generations and even centuries to come.

It is important to know we started with some key principles in mind.

First, despite the cacophony of voices these days that suggests little would be lost if higher education moved entirely to “the cloud,” we believe place matters fundamentally—hence the title. We also believe the scale and feel of Longwood are deeply right for our mission of cultivating citizen leaders; we envision only modest and manageable growth, mostly through improved retention, to approximately 6,000 students. And finally, we want to contribute to the vitality and success of our home communities, and help Farmville reach its potential as one of America’s truly great college towns (indeed, its first two-college town).

The document that follows is the product of thousands of hours of work by the members of the campus Steering Committee on campus, and our partners—the world-class architecture and urban design firm of Cooper Robertson. We hired Cooper Robertson because they are the best in the business, because they shared our vision for a walkable, vibrant college campus and community, and because we knew they could imagine great ideas that we and others could not.

That is precisely what they have done in this roadmap for our campus. It is bold, and sets a high bar, but with hard work and commitment is achievable in the years to come. The Master Plan honors and builds upon the classical beauty of our main campus, while providing the facilities needed to prepare our students for life and work in the 21st century. It envisions some new buildings, but focuses even more broadly on building community – on creating places and spaces, both on campus and reaching into a great college town, that will shape and inspire our students in perpetuity.

W. Taylor Reveley IV

Letter from the President

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Longwood University Master Plan

Executive Summary

Proposed High Street Gateway

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Longwood University Master Plan

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Executive Summary

Place Matters: the Longwood University Master Plan 2025, is the result of over a year of diligent work, thorough analysis, copious data collection, animated discussions of issues and exchanges of ideas.

It involved the participation, and genuine contribution, of every dean, division and department at Longwood University—from the Board of Visitors to the Office of the President and the Provost, and from the Faculty Senate to Facilities Management—including, of course, the student body. Just as importantly, it also involved the Town Council of Farmville, local business leaders and leadership from Prince Edward and Cumberland Counties. The process was inclusive, collaborative and constructive.

The Request for Proposals, issued by the University on February 12, 2014, for Professional Services for the Development of a University Master Plan, set the vision and the tone for how the master plan would develop.

The Request for Proposals outlined a vision for Longwood in the future and called for a comprehensive master plan that reflects Longwood’s visions, goals and strategic planning efforts; one that is flexible and adaptable and understands and engages Longwood’s rich history; one that creates a strong residential community of precincts, villages and traditional neighborhoods—linked to town in pedestrian friendly and seamless ways; and one that lays the groundwork for a future Longwood that is sustainable, timeless and the same as it is today, but better.

Prior to commencing work on the master plan, a strong organizational structure was put into place by the University requiring the time and commitment of a great many people associated with the University: a Master Plan Working Group was established as the day-to-day contact with the design and consulting team; a Steering Committee, of sixteen people, was formed for oversight to review and critique the progress of the work at important thresholds in the development of the master plan; and, the critical path of the work was driven by scheduled, quarterly, Board of Visitors meetings—so that Longwood’s governing body could be kept current as the plan developed and, throughout the process, be given the opportunity to make any course corrections it saw fit.

Over the course of sixteen months, dozens of interviews were made with key personnel and groups; hundreds of meetings were held to discuss unfolding issues and emerging ideas; and thousands of analytical diagrams, sketches, three-dimensional studies, photographs and precedent images were created or

collected. Over a dozen formal presentations were made to key constituency groups and the master planning team had boots on the ground regularly and often throughout the work.

The first order of business was to perform a thorough programmatic and physical analysis of the University as it stands today, including new projects that emerged from the Vision 2020 Master Plan, which Longwood has begun to implement. Out of the analysis came an academic program for growth, an athletic program of needs to meet the Big South Conference standards, an intimate understanding of the physical characteristics of the campus, and a set of Design Principles against which all design proposals could be vetted. The second task was to develop design options for how best to meet Longwood’s visions and programmatic needs—academic, athletic and student life—and how the master plan could illustrate opportunities for Longwood to be an economic driver for the community and the Town of Farmville. The options were vetted on the degree to which they met Longwood’s vision and the Design Principles set forth, and were further refined into precinct plans that were ultimately knitted together into a final master plan, the preferred plan: Place Matters.

The result is a master plan that will preserve what is best about Longwood, enhance and extend those good qualities, allow Longwood to be a key node, a destination, an engine for prosperity, and a school of choice nationally—while allowing the Town of Farmville to become one of the great college towns in the country.

Executive Summary

Artist rendering of the proposed 2015 Master Plan Main Campus

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Longwood University Master Plan

Introduction to Longwood

Proposed Lankford Mall

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Longwood University Master Plan

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Longwood University

MISSION AND VISION Longwood University is an institution of higher learning dedicated to the development of citizen leaders who are prepared to make positive contributions to the common good of society. Building upon its strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, the University provides an environment in which exceptional teaching fosters student learning, scholarship, and achievement. As the only four-year public institution in south central Virginia, Longwood University serves as a catalyst for regional prosperity and advancement.

Approved by the Longwood Board of Visitors, July 1997.

Longwood University will transform capable men and women into citizen leaders, fully engaged in the world around them. The University will be a first choice institution renowned for developing the power of citizen leadership in its students for the benefit of the greater community.

What is a Citizen Leader?

Citizen leaders are the bedrock of democracy. They are the reasons communities thrive. They are the people who make the United States of America what it wants to be. They make our nation work. They care and they equip themselves with the tools to bring their caring to life in the world. A citizen leader effectively combines three components of a joy-filled life.

Education: The citizen leader is a lifelong learner and stays connected to what is new in the world. Faculty are encouraged and rewarded for contributing to scholarship as well as for their service as teachers.

Values: Citizen Leaders know their values and live by them.

Honesty, equality, civility, duty and an appreciation of the differences among peoples are fundamental values. To these, the citizen leader adds the personal values that define him or her.

Service: The capstone of every great civilization has always been a commitment to serve others. It is a common precept of the world’s great religions; it is one of the finest expressions of our humanity. To the citizen leader, service is not just an extracurricular activity.

EDUCATION

VALUES CITIZEN LEADER

SERVICE

Introduction to Longwood

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Longwood University

ACTIVITIES Educational Programs

Special Educational Programs

Fitness & Recreation

Longwood University is a coeducational public institution. The three colleges, the Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business & Economics, and the College of Education & Human Services, offer more than 100 majors, minors and concentrations. Graduate programs include Business, Education, English, Sociology, and Communication Sciences & Disorders.

Longwood requires an internship or research project for every student in every major.

Students interested in engineering can earn a masters degree or a second bachelors degree in five years, depending on the transfer institution, as part of Longwood's 3 + 2 program, which is offered cooperatively with the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, Christopher Newport University and the University of Tennessee.

Longwood's health and physical education facilities offer a wide range of activities and resources including: a pool, dance studio, athletic training lab, exercise science lab, 3,000-seat gymnasium, nine tennis courts, nine-hole golf course, 30-foot rock climbing wall, indoor track, basketball and racquetball courts, and weight training equipment.

Longwood’s pre-professional program in the medical sciences prepares students for graduate programs at schools of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, medical technology, dental hygiene, physical therapy, occupational therapy and pharmacy.

Longwood University Master Plan

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Longwood University

LOCATION

Longwood University is located in South Central Virginia, in the town of Farmville, in Prince Edward County. Farmville and Longwood are in Virginia's heartland (nearby Buckingham County is the geographical center of Virginia) and located at the headwaters of the Appomattox River.

Entrance to Downtown Farmville

Existing aerial of Main Campus

Farmville's and Longwood's histories are inextricably intertwined and share momentous, historic events such as being a stone's throw from where the Civil War ended and the Civil Rights Movement began.

Farmville is a pivot point to other major cities of the Old Dominion: • Richmond (64 mi) • Lynchburg (47 mi) • Blacksburg (135 mi) • Harrisonburg (121 mi) • Washington, DC (171 mi) • Lexington (92 mi)

• Charlottesville (76 mi) • Roanoke (102 mi) • Norfolk (149 mi) • Williamsburg (114 mi) • Virginia Beach (158 mi) • Danville (88 mi)

Introduction to Longwood

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Longwood University

HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT

Introduction

“A Master Plan is a clear vision for how a place will develop, grow and evolve, physically, over time. A good master plan—envisions a fabric of buildings, open spaces and landscape that are knitted together in a cohesive, legible, attractive —and memorable—way. The development of a good plan requires the use of well-established and time-proven planning principles.” (Kirk, 2015)

Ruffner Hall

One of these planning principles is to understand both the historical and social contexts within which the plan will be developed. The existence of a good Master Plan precludes, or limits significantly, unfortunate choices that, in the end, conspire against good place-making and good community building.

Longwood University’s development over the years has been inextricably intertwined with that of the surrounding community. This community has been the tableau for events that have had significant influence on the social and political fabric of our nation, from the enterprising free black community of Israel Hill, to the final hours of the Civil War, to the 1951 student strike at Moton High School that helped launch the modern civil rights movement. An understanding of this important history is an essential tool to the development of a vision that will carry the campus into the centuries to come.

Longwood University Master Plan

Longwood University

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HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT

The Beginning As a part of the first wave of westward migration during our country’s colonial period, a group of entrepreneurial plantation owners began a settlement at Rutledge’s Ford on the Appomattox River.

One week after the establishment of a tobacco inspection station there in 1798, the General Assembly of Virginia established the village of Farmville on 50 acres of land.

Farmville and Prince Edward County emerged as thriving centers for the commercial production of tobacco. Just three years after its 1832 incorporation as a town, Farmville was the fourth largest tobacco market in Virginia; annually over half a million dollars ($14 million in today’s dollars) flowed through its two tobacco warehouses. The town also boasted five tobacco factories, ten stores, two taverns, a printing office, Presbyterian and Methodist churches, and a school for women. In 1839, town businessmen secured a charter from the Virginia General Assembly and incorporated that school into the Farmville Female Seminary. The Seminary distinguished itself from other female schools at the time by offering courses in modern languages, mathematics, science, and philosophy.

Higher education has been essential to Farmville’s development, geography and character throughout its history.

In 1865, the young women who attended what was then called the Farmville Female College were witness to some of the final hours of the Civil War, most notably, perhaps, with General Robert E. Lee’s badly battered Confederate Army retreating along High Street, just a few hours ahead of General Ulysses S. Grant’s Union Army. General Grant was just steps from campus when he penned his first letter seeking surrender from General Lee. He was rebuffed, but the war came to an end just two days later, 30 miles to the west at Appomattox.

After the Civil War, both the town and the Farmville Female College experienced recovery and growth. In 1872, Farmville became the county seat of Prince Edward County. In the mid-1870s, town leaders provided for the renewed growth of the

Indeed, Farmville was from its very beginnings a college town—in fact, a twocollege town, and also in fact, America’s first two-college town. Hampden-Sydney was nearly 25 years old when Farmville was founded. In 1850, the area was home to a female seminary, a men’s college, and—though they have since moved or closed—a law school, medical school, and theological seminary. But Hampden-Sydney and Longwood remained and thrived.

The State Female Normal School as it appeared in 1884

College by securing a new charter with increased capital. They also actively lobbied the General Assembly for an institution to train public school teachers. Qualified teachers were needed in the public school system created by the new Virginia state constitution of 1869.

In 1884, the General Assembly passed a bill establishing a “normal school expressly for the training and education of white female teachers for public schools” in Farmville, with the understanding that the trustees of the College would deed the school property to the state. In 1885, enrollment at the State Female Normal School was 121 and would continue to grow, reaching 351 students by 1900.

Dr. William Henry Ruffner, who had been the first State Superintendent of Public Instruction responsible for establishing the public school system, was elected the first principal of the State Female Normal School. “All that we had then was a principal, an appropriation, a rough scheme, and an old academy building,” he

Introduction to Longwood

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Longwood University

1905 Plan

later recalled. “Not a teacher, nor a book, nor a piece of furniture or apparatus, and more things to be done than any human mind could foresee . . . the building had to be repaired and added to.” (Shackelford, 1957, pg. 9).

1898-to-1901 tenure. The projects included an expansion of the dining hall and dormitory, a new kitchen, an electric plant, as well as a freestanding, two-story structure housing a laundry on the first floor and a gymnasium.

In 1884, the campus consisted of the original building, a second building housing both recitation halls and a dormitory, a larger three-story recitation hall, as well as a two story addition to the original building housing a kitchen, dining room and a dormitory. The three-story recitation hall was later known as West Ruffner.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Virginia’s political leaders reformed the state constitution to eliminate the reforms of the post-Civil War period, effectively disenfranchising African Americans and codifying school segregation. The era of “Jim Crow” had commenced. In the decades to come, the struggle for civil rights would come to play a fundamental role in the history of the surrounding community as Farmville and Prince Edward became the scene of a heroic student strike at Moton High School in 1951. Moton students provided the largest single group of plaintiffs in the Brown versus Board of Education case, in which the U.S. Supreme Court declared segregation in public education unconstitutional in 1954. The county then emerged as a center of “Massive Resistance” to integration in Virginia, drawing national and even worldwide attention during a five-year period in which the public schools were closed in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to forestall integration.

Under the leadership of President Dr. John Atkinson Cunningham, a new building for the State Female Normal School was completed in 1897. The new building was a two-story assembly building attached to the eastern end of the complex. During Dr. Cunningham’s 18871897 tenure, a two-story freestanding building was built as a recitation room. In later years, this building was used as a science building.

President Dr. Robert Frazer continued the development and improvement of the State Female Normal School’s facilities during his

The Jarman Era On campus, the year 1902 marked the beginning of a new era for the institution that had its humble beginnings as the Farmville Female Seminary. Dr. Joseph Leonard Jarman was elected as the State Female Normal School at Farmville’s fourth president. The more than four decades under his leadership represented one of the most dynamic periods in the growth and development of the institution.

Shortly after taking office, Dr. Jarman became highly engaged in the development of the campus. He was able to obtain funding for the new West Wing and leveraged the design of that building to develop a plan for the vision of a complex of buildings to meet the future needs of the Normal School, as well as setting the standard against which buildings and architecture would be measured throughout the twentieth century and beyond.

Longwood University Master Plan

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Longwood University

HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT

The Jarman Era

1912 Plan

In 1912, Dr. Jarman engaged Francis Palmer Smith, Director of the Georgia Tech College of Architecture, to develop the institution's first true master plan. This plan envisioned new dormitory spaces, a student building, an infirmary, a training school, faculty housing, a new science building, a large gymnasium and support facilities. By the end of his tenure all but the gymnasium, science building and faculty housing had been completed.

The economic collapse that began in 1929 hit the area hard. A number of local businesses were not able to weather the storm and went out of business.

The great droughts of 1930 and 1932 devastated a good bit of the agricultural production in the area. Agriculturally based businesses were a primary source of jobs in Farmville and the region.

The immediate response came from the Red Cross in the form of distribution of flour to feed the needy. In the early 1930s, a 106-employee branch of the Craddock Terry Shoe Company was opened. Both the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps were instrumental in providing local employment for as many as 530 people throughout the Depression. Works Progress Administration federal funds were used to construct both the library building on Longwood’s campus, now Lancaster Hall, as well as the Robert Russa Moton High School for local African American students.

Both the school and Farmville were impacted by the world wars. Students became active participants in fund raising and relief efforts, as well as providing entertainment to soldiers at Fort Pickett.

During Dr. Jarman’s tenure, the institution enjoyed significant growth and development.

At the outset, the institution was the State Female Normal School with 13 faculty members and an enrollment of about 307 students. The physical plant consisted of five buildings of various ages and condition.

When he retired in 1946, the State Teachers College, with 55 faculty and 925 students, was fully accredited by the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools. The physical plant consisted of 20 buildings on a wellplanned and aesthetically pleasing campus.

His resignation marked the end of building construction and campus development throughout the remaining years of the State Teachers College, which changed its name to Longwood College in 1949.

Introduction to Longwood

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Longwood University

The Post-World War II Years As American higher education expanded dramatically after World War II and campuses grew substantially, a more formalized process of campus master planning began to emerge. This process allowed state, campus and community leaders to systematically assess needs, designate priorities, and—in the ideal, though not always in practice— imbue their campuses with vision, elegance and architectural coherence.

The first master plan for what was then called Longwood College was developed in 1961 and subsequently updated in 1965. The update called for a dramatic expansion of the College southward along Ely (now Griffin), Pine, Spruce, and Main Streets. It envisioned new dormitories, new buildings for the music and arts programs, and a campus laboratory school.

Since 1965, campus plans have been developed in 1985, 1991, 2001 and 2008. Significant concerns about how Longwood’s expansion might affect the surrounding neighborhood persisted into the early 2000s. President Patricia Cormier’s 2004 public promise to refrain from using eminent domain to further campus expansion set a new direction.

The 1965 plan was developed with little input from community leaders, and its release prompted protest from black property owners who lived near campus. Longwood used the state power of eminent domain for property acquisition, resulting in the compensation and forced relocation of both white and African-American property owners, including Race Street Baptist Church.

Over the past decade, campus leaders have worked more closely with citizens to discuss how expansion might affect the surrounding neighborhood. In 2014, under the leadership of President W. Taylor Reveley IV, Longwood reiterated that commitment, and the Longwood Board of Visitors issued a resolution of apology for the University’s past use of eminent domain.

1957

1965 Master Plan

1972 Flyover

Longwood University Master Plan

Longwood University

BUILDING AND ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

There is remarkable consistency in the older, historic and iconic buildings of campus which contribute to the lasting and memorable qualities of the place.

These buildings also frame and give form to the special places on campus: High Street, Wheeler Mall, north Brock Commons, the Wheeler and Cox Residence Hall promenade and Lankford Mall–Stubbs Mall.

They are elegant brick structures in the Georgian-style: colonnaded, two to three stories, and capped, generally, with hipped roofs in painted (red) standing seam metal.

Ruffner Hall

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Introduction to Longwood

Longwood University

Lankford Clock Tower

Beale Plaza

The characteristics and architectural elements that contribute to a cohesive sense of place include:

• Two to three story buildings framing broad lawns or allees with lush landscaping.

• Buildings of common, earth tone red brick and handsomely articulated, robust façades.

• Hipped roofs in standing-seam metal, painted oxblood red.

• Punched windows with divided lights and contrasting limestone lintels and sills with white painted casings, sashes and mullions.

• On Brock Commons, one and two story colonnaded porticoes punctuate the façades with ornately detailed doors, and pediments.

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• Wheeler Mall, Longwood University's grandest public space, is framed by handsome, three story, colonnaded brick buildings, appropriate to the scale of Wheeler Mall, as well as large, deciduous trees that line the north and south periphery of the mall. Often domes, cupolas, belfries and/or pediments are used to accentuate prominent views or mark important locations.

• The historic Longwood buildings have clearly articulated bases, middles and tops with prominent cornices. Façades are further articulated in scale through subtle shifts in plane to provide relief and rain leaders are used as part of the architecture.

• This classically inspired expression in the Georgian style results in a consistent language of architecture, materials, and details that define what makes a good “Longwood" building.

Memorable Places

Longwood University Master Plan

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Master Planning Process

STRATEGIC GUIDANCE The master planning effort for Longwood University was driven by several guiding principles:

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Understand the nature and character of the campus today.

The Planning Guidance provided by Longwood University, in the Request for Proposals issued by the University, and subsequent dialogues with University leadership at the onset of the project, included a University that could be described as follows:

The Same, but Better A Strong Residential Community

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Reinforce the positive qualities of what exists—including initiatives from previous master plans and proposed new buildings.

A Key Node and an Engine of Prosperity Sustainable

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Find opportunities to extend that character and make connections to places beyond the existing confines of the University project.

An Attraction for Alumni Aspiring to Athletic Excellence A Beautiful Place with Strong Claims to Peoples’ Spirits that Will Survive in the Long Term

Introduction to Longwood

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Master Planning Process

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

All of the underlying tenets of the Master Plan can be found clearly articulated in the Request for Proposals crafted by the University and issued on February 12th, 2014. The Request for Proposals called for:

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A comprehensive master plan that reflects Longwood’s visions, goals, and strategic planning efforts

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A Master Plan that envisions a Longwood with a strong residential community that is sustainable and timeless

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An intimate understanding of the history of Longwood and the town of Farmville

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Creation of a place that becomes a destination

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Review of previous master plans to identify ideas that should be preserved and used

Envisioning a University that is linked to town in a seamless pedestrian friendly way

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A master plan that addresses the entire Longwood experience

A Master Plan that supports Longwood’s aspirations for academic and athletic excellence

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A master plan that is flexible and adaptable

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A Master Plan that makes Longwood a key node and engine for prosperity

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A master plan that describes and illustrates what Longwood should be like in the years 2025 to 2039

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Adoption of the planning principles of New Urbanism—as Longwood aspires to have a timeless sense of place for human interaction

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Creation of outdoor rooms, open spaces and greenways

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Creation of campus precincts, villages and traditional neighborhoods

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A master plan that accommodates an increase in the student population to 6,000 students

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A master plan that envisions a Longwood that will be the same as it is today, but better

The Request for Proposals is an extraordinarily clear and lucid charter for Longwood’s future, and set the stage for all master planning efforts that followed.

Longwood University Master Plan

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Master Planning Process

PROCESS

The Process for developing the University Master Plan fell into four distinct phases of work: 1. Analysis and Discovery 2. Options 3. Development of the Preferred Plan 4. Final Master Plan Documentation

Analysis and Discovery At the onset of the Analysis and Discovery phase of work, the Master Planning Team familiarized itself with Longwood's Strategic Plan, its vision and its relationship with the town of Farmville.

In this phase of work, the Master Planning Team and their consultants engaged in a fact-finding effort, working with the University community at-large, in order to get to know the University as well as possible before proffering any design or planning ideas. This is essential to creating a useful plan of lasting value. It was important, therefore, to understand all aspects of Longwood University, including its: • • • • • • •

Culture History Context Sense of Self Vision Strategic Plan Relationship to the Community • Academic Programs and Aspirations

• Athletic Programs and Aspirations • Physical Characteristics −− Infrastructure −− Campus Fabric −− Architectural Character −− Physical Relationship to the Neighboring Community and Beyond −− Unique Qualities

Executive Summary

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Master Planning Process

The team interviewed many of the University's Deans, Department Heads, Directors and other available resources who would necessarily have an impact on the ultimate Master Plan, and who would necessarily be impacted by the ultimate Master Plan. The findings of those interviews were summarized and synthesized and certain themes and goals began to emerge—which then began to form the basis of the Planning and Design Principles for the project.

Longwood’s academic and athletic facilities were studied quantitatively and qualitatively, vetted against State Council of Higher Education for Virginia guidelines and the standards of the Big South Conference, and a detailed academic and athletic program of needs was developed—taking into consideration Longwood’s plan to grow its student population to 6,000.

The team also met with Farmville's Town Council and participated in public forums to hear from the community its concerns and issues.

Who was interviewed?

President – Provost – Assessment & Institutional Research – Head Librarian – Professional Services – Registrar – VP of Administration & Finance – Human Resources - VP of Student Affairs – VP of Facilities Management – VP for Commonwealth Relations – Dean of Cook Cole College of Arts & Sciences – Dean of Business & Economics – Dean of College of Education & Human Services – Dean of College of Graduate & Professional Studies – Director of Assessment & Institutional Research – Instructional Technology – Strategic Operations – IT Services – Student Success – Master Plan Steering Committee – Assistant AD for Academic & Leadership Development – Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations – Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine – Director of Strength & Conditioning – Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance & Student Services – Director of Athletics Business Operations – Director of Facilities Operations – Energy Manager – Director of Athletics – Vice President of Facilities & Real Property – Farmville Community – Farmville Town Council - Master Plan Working Group – individual students – the Student Senate

Longwood University Master Plan

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Master Planning Process

PROCESS

Analysis and Discovery

Options

Simultaneously, the Master Planning team developed an exhaustive analysis of Longwood’s physical characteristics, its campus fabric, open spaces, landscaping treatments, stock of buildings, architectural character, connectivity to town and to the region, edges and key nodes for each of Longwood’s property holdings, including:

In the Options Phase of Work, the Master Planning team, working in concert with the Master Plan Working Group and Longwood’s Steering Committee, tested multiple options for how program might most sensibly be placed on Longwood owned properties including renovation and re-purposing of existing facilities. The goal was to determine how Longwood’s existing fabric could be enhanced and extended more broadly throughout the campus. An additional goal was to determine how best to address the existing buildings at Longwood that fail to meet Longwood’s standards and architectural legacy.

• • • • • •

The Main Triangle Longwood Landings Lancer Park Longwood Village Johnston Drive, Longwood House and the Golf Course Hull Springs Farm

From this analysis, Longwood’s best characteristics and, perhaps more importantly, places where Longwood’s fabric or architectural character was wanting were identified. These recognitions and observations, along with the themes that emerged from the interviews of Longwood personnel, the Town Council and the community, provided a strong basis for the Options Phase of Work.

The options were developed in free-hand sketch form, digitally and three-dimensionally, and included diagrams, plans, sections and elevations.

Options were vetted against the degree to which they successfully met the Design and Planning Principles developed in the Analysis and Discovery phase of work and how well they met the program goals.

The best aspects of various Options were melded into detailed Precinct Plans which established the preferred direction for the ultimate Master Plan, or the Preferred Plan, to be developed in greater detail in the subsequent phase of work.

Introduction to Longwood

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Master Planning Process

Preferred Plan

Final Master Plan Documentation

The detailed Precinct Plans were then woven together to make a comprehensive Master Plan describing, illustratively, how Longwood would look, feel and work in the future.

The Final Master Plan Document is a summary of all the findings, conclusions, design and planning ideas that led to the final, illustrative Master Plan, with accompanying narratives to explain the issues, describe proposed solutions and prescribe a way for the University to develop and transform over the next decade and more. The main body of the report contains a linear progression of the Analysis and Discovery work, Options, and Preferred Plan, with an appendix of detailed consultant reports as additional information and back-up.

The Preferred Plan includes new buildings already in the pipeline for construction at the University, and proposed new buildings, landscape and hardscape improvements and architectural interventions on certain existing buildings—all knit together to make a cohesive whole.

The Preferred Plan includes considerations for existing and proposed new infrastructure and utilities, parking needs now and in the future, and over-arching strategies for how to better physically, and economically, integrate Longwood and the Town of Farmville.

Longwood University Master Plan

Analysis and Discovery

Proposed Iler Field

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Longwood University Master Plan

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Program

The specific programmatic components to be addressed by the Master Plan were fourfold:

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Academics

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Student Life

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Athletics

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Facilities and Infrastructure

Analysis and Discovery

Program

Academics The criteria used to develop the Academic Program was threefold —and based on a detailed analysis of available, existing classroom space, the types of classroom spaces, and classroom utilization: • • •

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Standards Longwood University’s projected growth to 6,000 students by 2025 Identified needs for venues in a range of sizes that can support Longwood’s academic mission as well as events and performances

Student Life The criteria for programs to enhance Student Life included: • • •

The desire for sixty-percent (60%) of Longwood’s student body to be living in Longwood owned housing The need to consolidate student services and amenities The need for additional and more dispersed food service opportunities

Athletics The criteria used to develop the Athletics Program was precipitated

by Longwood University’s relatively recent entry into the Big South Conference and Division I sports, and the standards established for facilities by the Big South Conference. Longwood’s existing facilities were vetted against these standards.

Facilities and Infrastructure It was essential that the master plan take into account Longwood's existing facilities and infrastructure, scheduled replacement of systems, and what would be required to accommodate growth and make the University a model of energy efficiency and sustainability.

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Longwood University Master Plan

Program

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Additional Programmatic Considerations Additional programmatic considerations to be addressed by the Master Plan had to do with better meeting Longwood University’s mission and vision, in support of the University’s culture. These were:

•

More outdoor classroom spaces

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More high quality outdoor public spaces

•

•

More places where spontaneous recreation can occur (like outdoor basketball courts)

•

A stronger residential community that is safe, walkable and bike-able

•

More flexible teaching and learning environments with 21st technologies (moving away from the old fashioned pedagogy of “sage and stage”) More and more varied spaces for collaboration, between: −− Students −− Students and Teachers −− Teachers −− Departments

Wheeler Mall

All of the above became not merely programmatic goals (numbers to hit), but overarching goals toward creating a higher quality environment for teaching, learning, living, recreating and competing. Each component of the program is discussed in more detail in the following sections.

Analysis and Discovery

Program

33

ACADEMIC

The findings of the Programming Study were that Longwood’s needs for additional academic space are modest, and fall into four primary categories: 1. Research Laboratories and Service 2. Library and Collaborative Learning Space 3. Physical Education and Athletics 4. Assembly and Exhibit The total aggregate area of Academic Space Needs for the categories itemized above is 109,515 Assignable Square Feet.

Observations 1. Additional Faculty Research and “Maker” Spaces are needed in support of the Capstone program.

2. Willett Hall is undersized and inadequate to support the Health, Athletic Training, Recreation & Kinesiology (H.A.R.K.) programs.

3. Practice fields and areas for informal recreation are also deficient.

4. There is a need for a 400 to 500 seat Performing Arts venue.

5. There is a need for a Multi-Purpose Hall with a capacity of 3,500 to 5,000 people for events, convocations, and in support of the H.A.R.K. programs.

Bedford Hall Art Studio

Longwood University Master Plan

Program

STUDENT LIFE

The Master Plan addresses a variety of student life issues, or, more aptly stated, student quality of life issues, including: • Create additional recreational spaces

• The new Upchurch University Center

• Create more open space and parks where organic gatherings and games can occur

• Consolidation of student extracurricular activities and athletics on the main campus

• Provide outdoor basketball courts

• Provide student housing for 60% or more of Longwood’s student body on, or in close proximity to, the main campus

• Renovation of Lankford Hall to provide consolidated “one-stop” student services • Additional decentralized and varied food service venues and opportunities • The new Student Success Center

• Renovate and rejuvenate the CurryFrazer Residence Halls to make them more attractive, provide a welcoming front door on South Main Street and improve the student experience

34

Analysis and Discovery

Program

35

ATHLETIC

In order to meet the standards of the Big South Division I Conference, and to be able to sponsor conference tournaments, Longwood requires the following: • A new arena by 2020 with a capacity of three-thousand people • Two or more basketball practice courts • One to two new multi-purpose practice fields • Six additional competition tennis courts plus four practice courts, consolidated • Improved and expanded locker room facilities • Academic support space • Spectator seating, concessions and restrooms

Observations 1. Longwood’s Athletic Facilities are not up to Division I standards and do not adequately communicate Longwood’s identity 2. Currently, Field Sports facilities are disaggregated on the Main Campus and at Longwood Drive. This conspires against Longwood’s aspiration to Athletic Excellence and the ability to have warm-up and practice fields contiguous, to sponsor tournaments and to efficiently organize practice and competitive events alike.

3. Further, it is not optimal with respect to school spirit as many of the competitive events occur at a remote location from the Main Campus and student spectators are less likely to make the journey. Consolidation of the Field Sports is therefore a goal.

4. The Athletic Facilities, with modern amenities and technologies, are an opportunity to help brand Longwood.

Longwood University Master Plan

36

Longwood University and the Region The location of Farmville among the constellation of cities of Central Virginia—(Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Richmond), can provide clues as to how to think about and compare the distinctive physical and programmatic features of Longwood University, the Town of Farmville and Prince Edward and Cumberland Counties.

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How can the central location and positioning of Longwood (50 miles to Lynchburg, 60 miles to Charlottesville, 70 miles to Richmond) help articulate the unique qualities of the University?

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• Its role as a regional educational and cultural destination • Its role as a mid-sized residential college

US-460 US-460 • Its ability to attract and retain students over the long term • Its initiation into the Big South athletic conference What physical elements—buildings and facilities, transportation improvements, programs and physical settings—will strengthen the image of the University and its connections to the region?

Longwood University in the Region

Analysis and Discovery

Longwood University and the Region

CHARLOTTESVILLE LYNCHBURG (1hr, 15 mins) (1hr, 15 mins)

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Longwood University Master Plan

Longwood University and the Region

38

BRANDING, WAYFINDING TO CAMPUS AND ACCESS

A consistent approach to wayfinding to campus, in addition to streetscape improvements, new buildings and a re-configured South Campus, provides an opportunity to improve, in dramatic ways, Longwood’s name recognition, presence in the region, approach to campus and “first impressions” of the University.

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There are several approach routes to the University: • US-460 to the East or West Third Street • US-460 to South Main Street • Routes 15 and 621/600 to North Main Street Way-finding and graphic signage is inconsistent, lacking in visual interest and clarity, and often completely absent.

The University should carefully orchestrate preferred routes to campus for first time students, parents, and the public.

Potential Longwood Signage, US-460 overpass

The key gateways to campus should be historic High Street and the emerging South Main Street Corridor.

There is an opportunity to make use of a number of viaducts over 460 to identify and “advertise” Longwood while signaling the approach and directing people to campus via South Main Street.

Finally, there should be a Longwood University sign at every location where there is a mileage or directional sign to Farmville on all routes from the north, south, east and west.

Longwood University In The County

Longwood University and the Region

Analysis and Discovery

39

Cumberland Cumberland Rd Rd

High Bridge High Trail Bridge Trail

LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY

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LEGEND Longwood Property Approach Routes to University

Viaduct Opportunities over US- 460 New Route Opportunities

Longwood University Master Plan

Longwood University and the Region

40

NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT

The multiple districts, precincts and corridors surrounding Longwood’s main campus present a variety of physical conditions, settings and issues.

Determining where and how connections to surrounding neighborhoods could be made will help shape the Master Plan.

The South Main Street corridor is a high speed, multi-lane, auto dominated artery serving big box retail, strip malls, and auto oriented services. As one arrives at the potential southern portal to the school at the Moton Museum—the corridor is still an auto dominated environment. To the east, physical barriers (topography, a creek bed and parking lots) limit connections to the Venable neighborhood east of South Main Street and campus. South Main Street could be greatly improved by eliminating a traffic lane, reducing the pavement width and introducing a larger scale landscape gesture on its western edge. These measures would go a long way toward unifying the University’s grounds and frontage along this important approach. These streetscape improvements would greatly enhance this front door and the pedestrian quality of the street.

At the western edge of campus, at Griffin Boulevard, the adjacent neighborhood provides a contrasting physical setting to that of Longwood’s. The neighborhood to the west of Griffin Boulevard is a pattern of a small scale grid of streets (whose east-west streets terminate at Griffin Boulevard) and single-family, detached houses. To the east of Griffin Boulevard is Longwood University with larger scale residence halls and brick walls.

connectivity across the Longwood grounds.

The greatest opportunity for the University to make critical connections to important neighborhoods is through the enhancement of the configuration and connections at Franklin Street, Hooper Street and Wynne Drive.

Additional opportunities for greater connectivity to town exist from High Street to the north—at North, Randolph and St. George Streets—to the Buffalo Street neighborhood, the former Buffalo Shook site, the Appomattox River, High Bridge Trail, Third Street corridor, Historic Main Street and Downtown.

Finally, High Street and its adjacent frontages can play a critical role in creating a more seamless Longwood-Farmville fabric, blending town and campus. Interventions to improve the key nodes at the east and west ends of High Street along Longwood’s frontage—at the intersection of Griffin Boulevard, Oak and Appomattox Streets, and at the intersection of High and Main Streets—are essential to this blending, as well as to pedestrian safety and fueling Farmville’s economic prosperity.

The First Avenue Field anchors the neighborhood to Longwood via Redford and Franklin Streets and is an important historical and cultural artifact that might be commemorated and enhanced, but should not be developed.

The intersection of Brock Commons and historic High Street is a third, critical node.

With the new Admissions Building sited on the triangular plot bound by High, Buffalo and St. George Streets, the University is crossing High Street and, in positive ways, beginning to blur the lines between it and the town—and, by doing so, making a stronger connection with the Town, further underscoring the importance of the Brock Commons-High Street intersection.

Currently Longwood University acts as a wedge between two important and historic neighborhoods to its east and west, thereby bifurcating the larger Farmville community.

There is a strong need and desire for greater

To the east, the Venable triangle (the block bounded by High, Venable, and Main Streets) offers a unique opportunity to bring the University to Main Street and create strong links east and north to Downtown.

Analysis and Discovery

Longwood University and the Region

The reorganization or redesign of streets and major intersections, streetscape design and open space initiatives, strategic development of underutilized property, and the location of Longwood facilities open to the community will go a long way toward achieving the University’s new urbanism goals: greater connectivity, walkability, mixed use facilities and activities, and an improved pedestrian environment and quality of life— all of which will contribute to a heightened sense of community.

Local Area Summary & Connections

41

Longwood University Master Plan

Longwood University and the Region

42

LONGWOOD SATELLITE PROPERTIES

In addition to the main campus known as “The Triangle”, bordered by South Main Street, Griffin Boulevard and High Street, the University, or the Longwood Real Estate Foundation, own additional lands which orbit the main campus at lesser or greater distances.

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There are also properties currently not owned by the University but which are closely tied to Longwood in that they provide student housing and, in some cases, other amenities— such as Longwood Landings, a mixed-use development of retail and student housing, in close proximity to the main campus on the east side of South Main Street on property bordered by South Main Street, 4th Street and Gross Creek; and, Sunchase, a somewhat higher-end apartment offering that was built by a private developer off of 460 at the intersection of Longwood Drive, with attendant retail and a multiplex cinema.

LEGEND

Longwood Property Longwood Buildings Planned Longwood Buildings and Athletic / Recreational Facilities

Longwood University and the Region

Analysis and Discovery

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Longwood controlled satellite properties include:

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• Lancer Park: a mix of student residence typologies and recreational fields. Lancer Park is in relatively close, even walkable, proximity to the main campus but feels more remote than it is because the connectivity at the streetscape is lacking • Johnston Drive: a one-hundred acre parcel of land, about one and one-half miles from the main campus that now supports a golf course, the President’s house and a few field sports facilities • Longwood Village Apartments: a small compound of multi-unit dwelling buildings that is a little over three miles from the heart of campus, off Country Road 15 (South Main Street) near the 460 interchange

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The character of these properties, and the opportunities they present to the University, for the purposes of creating a Master Plan, are discussed in more detail throughout the analysis and findings.

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Longwood University Master Plan

44

The Campus

LAND USES Currently, Longwood University’s main campus is comprised of 2.1 million square feet in forty buildings on approximately sixty (60) acres.

The main campus is, essentially, a mix of uses in the categories of academic, administration, student housing, assembly, museum, performing arts, athletics and recreation. Although no one building, block, or precinct is devoted exclusively to one use, a few general observations can be made.

The greatest concentration of uses is along High Street and Brock Commons and includes academic, administrative and assembly functions. The heart of the campus will begin to gravitate south along Brock Commons as the Upchurch University Center, the new Academic Building, the Student Success Center, and the new Residence Halls are completed. The question becomes how and where to expand beyond these core areas.

Additional social or shared facilities, as well as critical upgrades and expansions of major open spaces, already highly used and highly visible, should be the focus here.

On the Main Campus, Student Residence Halls are typically located at the periphery of campus, as are Wheeler, Cox, Arc and CurryFrazer Halls. A significant amount of Student Residences are located off campus entirely, however, diminishing the opportunities for a strong residential campus and synergies with the Town of Farmville. Longwood Landings is located just east of South Main Street, Lancer Park to the west off of the High Bridge Trail, and Longwood Village well to

Memorable Places

Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

the south. Consolidating Student Residences on, or in very close proximity to, the main campus, will invigorate both student life and Farmville as a college town; it will also make for a much more walkable campus and reduce traffic, parking and public transit issues.

The north and south ends of the Longwood University “triangle� are anchored with major institutional elements: Moton Museum to the south, and Ruffner Hall and the new Admissions Building to the north.

Four issues emerge from these observations:

1

How does the campus expand south and make best use of underutilized land?

2

Is there the opportunity at the Venable Triangle to extend the campus to Main Street at the foot of Downtown?

3

How can maintenance and service areas be consolidated in close proximity to what they service, but on less valuable and visible real estate?

4

Can the potential reorganization and redistribution of athletic and recreation areas provide the key to unlocking a strategy for campus expansion and much needed aesthetic improvements?

Use Patterns

45

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

46

CAMPUS EDGES

The neighborhoods adjacent to the Campus create a variety of edge conditions.

To the north, High Street presents the most successful front door and consistent campus edge—a generous and richly landscaped setback, with neo-classical buildings of consistent scale, materials and details, and multiple pedestrian pathways and building entries. The entry to Brock Commons is the center of this ensemble.

Longwood’s frontage on High Street is bookended by two important intersections at Griffin Boulevard, High and Oak Streets and at High Street and Main Street. These are important intersections and gateways to the campus that should be reinforced through street intersection improvements, streetscape improvements, new buildings to mark and anchor those important intersections, landscape initiatives to further enhance them, and improved traffic control devices.

Griffin Boulevard poses a different edge condition altogether. To the west of Griffin Boulevard is a neighborhood of small scale, detached single family residences intermingled with vacant lots. To the east, within Longwood's boundaries, there is a dramatic grade change that is part of a natural drainage way and greenspace at the former Lancer Field. North of Vine Street, the character changes to that of larger scale residence halls and at-grade parking lots.

Edge conditions at South Main Street

Griffin Boulevard should present a more consistent, walkable edge with sidewalks, wayfinding and tree planting improvements.

East-West streets leading to, and through, Campus (Madison, Redford, Vine, Franklin and Edmunds Streets) can be designated within a hierarchy of primary, secondary and tertiary pedestrian and/or vehicular connections leading to and from the Campus.

Longwood’s South Main Street edge requires the most dramatic intervention to transform the school’s longest, most visible and most prominent public face to the community. A confusing collection of athletic fields, parking lots, stadium lighting, ill-defined landscape setbacks and sidewalk conditions detracts from the South Main Street approach to school and downtown.

North of the Redford Street entrance, service buildings, surface parking, auto oriented retail, and the wedge created by the underutilized “Venable Triangle” preclude any strong links between the University and historic downtown.

As an area of shared interest, this important corridor should become the focus of both short and long term efforts to create a more unified, consistent, attractive, and pedestrian oriented front door for Longwood and Downtown Farmville. A series of design and development proposals appears in the Campus-wide Framework Section of this report.

Analysis and Discovery

Campus edge conditions

The Campus

47

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

48

OPEN SPACE AND THE PUBLIC REALM

High Street frontage

A college campus should have an iconic, memorable, and timeless character made up of a seamless fabric of iconic buildings, building groupings, open spaces and grounds. These are places where people want to go and be, where people want to return to again and again.

Brock Commons promenade

Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

The “public realm” of a campus is its shared, outdoor spaces: streets, quads, malls, commons, gardens, pedestrian paths, view corridors, and iconic landmarks—all of which are framed by handsome buildings of consistent, human scale and character. A good campus has “good bones” which help establish its sense of place—and each campus is unique and distinct in its own way. When the network of open spaces is properly laidout and integrated, it can then become the basis for master planning initiatives that will strengthen and extend the physical character of the University in a seamless way.

49

Longwood’s “good bones” is its historic buildings, malls and commons—its legible and memorable organization of places, open spaces, streets, and pedestrian network.

Memorable places on campus which help establish the character of the place called Longwood include: 1. The High Street frontage: This is Longwood’s “front lawn” with its collection of historic iconic structures including Ruffner, Tabb, Grainger, Lancaster and French Halls.

2. Historic Brock Commons, Longwood’s central spine and primary public corridor.

3. Wheeler Mall and Beale Plaza, Longwood’s largest and most graciously scaled outdoor room.

4. Lankford/Stubbs Mall, Longwood’s most significant outdoor student activity.

5. The Dorrill Dining Hall/Lankford Hall building ensemble signaling the southward extension of Brock Commons.

Student fair at Longwood Landings

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

OPEN SPACE AND THE PUBLIC REALM

Open space types are varied in character, appropriately so, and include malls, lawns, fields, walks, plazas, courtyards and gardens.

That said, there are certain common characteristics and motifs at work that should be acknowledged and extended, wherever possible, as a part of any new capital improvements—in a hierarchical manner that recognizes primary, secondary and tertiary spaces. Tertiary spaces can be more idiosyncratic, for example, whereas primary spaces should be treated in a more consistent and systematic way.

The central spine of the open space network at Longwood is Brock Commons, from High to Franklin Streets. Larger scaled malls and quads flank this spine to the east and west. Tertiary spaces, such as plazas, gardens and interstitial spaces further layer this network. Public and partially closed streets reinforce the orthogonal north-south (Race and Spruce Streets) and east-west (Madison, Redford and Franklin Streets) pattern of the public framework— and a network of primary and secondary pedestrian paths and public sidewalks is an additional overlay on this grid-like quilt.

Open Space

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Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

The diagram illustrating the public realm framework at Longwood provides clues as to where key development sites should be located to reinforce the public realm; strategies for new or upgraded open spaces; and strategic locations for streets, intersections, buildings and other program elements where Longwood’s public realm can extend and make stronger links to the Farmville community. It is also informative as it begins to suggest areas or sites of joint interest with the Town that might be prioritized to create a more seamlessly connected physical environment and a catalyst for economic development.

Open Space Framework

51

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

52

ACCESS & VEHICULAR CIRCULATION

Several issues and questions emerge when analyzing access and vehicular circulation in and around Longwood’s main campus:

1

In the future, where should the major visitor entrance or entrances to the campus be located?

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Can the primary entrances to the campus from Main Street and Griffin Boulevard be improved through streetscape design?

2

Can any of the major intersections at external points of the Longwood triangle (South Main and Griffin Boulevard, Griffin Boulevard and High Street, High Street and North Main Street) be reconfigured or modified to provide a more rational pattern as well as safer and more pedestrian friendly environment?

4

Where should vehicular access points to campus be located south of Franklin Street, and what would be the resulting road network within the southern portion of Campus?

Race Street looking south

5

Can any streets be closed, narrowed, or “shared”—meaning the streets are primarily pedestrian, only open to service and emergency vehicles. Vine, Franklin, Pine, Venable, Race and Spruce Streets are logical candidates as shared streets depending on other considerations.

Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

Key points of entry and access are not as obvious and they could be, as well as being, at times, irregular and difficult to find/navigate for pedestrians and motorists alike. Longwood University’s primary vehicular entry point, at the intersection of South Main and Redford Street, is also a primary pedestrian crossing. While this is a signaled intersection, and therefore more accommodating to east-west pedestrian movement, it is also quite broad and cresting, creating certain concerns regarding pedestrian safety.

The east end of Redford Street is a nicely designed and landscaped “front door” to the University and gives one access to Longwood’s parking garage at the heart of campus. The west end of Redford Street also has the potential to be a front door, but it is currently neglected, leaving it unclear that this is also a means of direct access to the parking garage at the heart of campus.

Event related drop-off and pick-up issues are to be a consideration in the master plan, particularly in service of Willett Hall.

Many of Longwood University’s internal streets have circulation issues, conspiring against connectivity, clarity of movement, organization and a more bicycle friendly campus.

Redford Street entry and bus stop

53

Longwood University Master Plan

ACCESS & VEHICULAR CIRCULATION

Regional Access

The streets surrounding, and leading to, the campus have varying functions, traffic volumes, number of lanes and scale of right of way. Primary access to Longwood, as well as downtown, is via South Main (Business 15), and West Third Street (Business 460 & Business 15). Alternative routes to Main Street include Plank Road, River Road to the north, Longwood Avenue and Milnwood Road. The most aesthetically pleasing of approaches is from the west along High Street.

All vehicular and service access onto campus proper is likely to use Madison, Redford and Wynne Drive via South Main Street to the east; or from Madison, Redford, Franklin or Vine Streets via Griffin Boulevard to the west.

The Campus

54

Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

55

Edge Conditions

The three major streets which border Longwood University’s main campus —South Main Street, High Street and Griffin Boulevard— are configured in such a way as to favor the motor vehicles and conspire against safe pedestrian access and walkability, with multiple points of vehicular-pedestrian conflict.

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Moving north from Route 460, South Main Street begins at four, undivided, lanes, narrows to three lanes near Redford Street and becomes two lanes with on-street parking on both sides north of High Street. This presents a plethora of pedestrian safety issues. Along Longwood’s south-east edge, South Main Street is all but unwalkable, difficult to cross and prohibitive to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Venable Street, which is one way moving south, and functions, in effect, as a by-pass of the signaled intersection at Main and High Streets is also problematic. Venable Street empties into a “delta” of sorts merging with South Main—at one of the primary desire lines of pedestrian movement to student housing and retail at Longwood Landings.

Griffin Boulevard, which functions, in effect, as a bypass of Town, is overly broad for just two lanes of traffic (one each way) and as such encourages higher rates of speed than it should in this environment. Its breadth also means that crossing it on foot is a journey of braving rapidly moving automobiles.

Sight lines and distances are a concern at Griffin Boulevard, as well, as it crests considerably just north of Madison Street.

High Street is a primary east-west thoroughfare and while it is the most accommodating to pedestrians of Longwood’s primary edge streets, additional traffic calming devices should be explored and considered. The intersection of High Street, Main Street, Oak Street and Appomattox Street is particularly challenging, and potentially treacherous, for pedestrians.

The intersection of High Street and Main Street features a signaled intersection with multiple cycles of right-of-way that is a source of frustration for pedestrians attempting to cross Main Street, and likely precipitates crossing against the light.

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

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ACCESS & VEHICULAR CIRCULATION

Edge Conditions and Key Intersections Consider redefining/reconfiguring campus edge streets:

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Issues to be Addressed • Identify a campus, transition zone, and Town street character and modal priority structure

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Resolve problems at key intersections caused by geometric and operational irregularities: • High/Griffin/Oak • High/Main

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• Griffin Boulevard to include on-street parking and/or a bike lane • Main Street to become two lanes with parking and/or a bike lane • High Street to better prioritize pedestrian activity

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• Seek to enhance connectivity and consistency of street treatments

Leased Parking and Streets Proposed Bike Lanes Irregular Intersections

Existing street conditions

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Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

Street Opportunities • Potential road realignments to improve / expand pedestrianoriented realm, including possible de-mapping of certain streets • Increase density of South Main Street and rethink the interface of the street and the campus edge

Street Ownership The majority of the streets within the University’s campus are owned and maintained by the Town of Farmville.

The University is currently leasing Redford, Madison, Pine, Franklin and Race Streets from the Town at a rate of approximately $35,000 per annum.

LEGEND Farmville Streets Farmville Streets Leased to Longwood Longwood Parking Lots

Campus streets and parking

57

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

ACCESS & VEHICULAR CIRCULATION

The physical pattern and amount of asphalt roads and parking can reveal a lot about the quality of the pedestrian environment and where the ability to connect places and buildings breaks down.

Visual and physical barriers result from high amounts of asphalt on site and depict, literally and psychologically, the car taking precedence over the person.

There are several locations on campus where this is the case: South Main Street is, essentially, lined with a confusing array of at-grade parking lots, vehicular entries and curb cuts south of the Health & Fitness Center and north of Redford. A second concentration of asphalt occurs in the Venable Street triangle and in and around the Heating Plant, Bristow and Graham Halls. A third area occurs along Griffin toward the intersection of Oak and High.

From a purely physical planning perspective: Which at-grade lots can be replaced by active ground floor building uses and frontages? Where can parking be consolidated or relocated to free up underutilized land for new buildings, open spaces or critical pedestrian pathways? Where should highly visible and accessible parking be located to serve the public, visitors, alumni?

The south end of the campus needs to undergo a complete reorganization, requiring reconfiguration, relocation and reconsideration of parking resources.

Parking and paving

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Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

59

PARKING

Findings

Considerations

• Total of 2763 parking spaces

• Explore different parking management structures to address proximity-related issues

• Large facilities located on south end of campus, in Lancer Park, and east of campus • Capacity appears to be adequate overall – except during events and special circumstances • Proximity/desirability of assigned parking location is likely an issue • Visitor parking is an issue

• Need to develop parking management plans for events and special situations • Identify near-campus opportunities for visitor parking (potentially along Griffin Boulevard and Main Street) • Address Visitor (including Town resident) issues: −− Plan for events −− Plan for “everyday” visitor use −− Improve legibility of visitor parking rules −− Cost

• Student Parking −− Hunting license vs. lot-specific −− Supply vs. demand −− Proximity −− Cost • Evaluate faculty parking −− Supply vs. demand −− Proximity of supply to desire −− Cost • Need for additional parking and management plans −− Location −− Type −− Use • Griffin Boulevard & Main Street parking opportunities: −− Parking space yield −− Permitted users −− Rate/regulations

Existing parking on South Campus

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

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PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION

Pedestrian and Cyclist Challenges The existing fabric within the main campus and at its edges do not accommodate bicycle use. There is no bicycle connection to Lancer Park, Lancer Village or the High Bridge Trail.

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There are multiple barriers to pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, including terrain, stairs, buildings, fences and walls.

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Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

Existing street topographies and problematic street intersections pose challenges for bike circulation and pedestrian traffic. There is a clear need to connect to off-campus residential areas, as well as make links to historic downtown Farmville and the High Bridge Trail.

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It would be prudent, therefore, to formalize a bike system that identifies key points of destination, establishes traffic calming strategies, provides helpful wayfinding for pedestrian, bicycle and motor vehicle traffic alike, and provides adequate bicycle racks at key points of departure and arrival.

The right-of-ways at Griffin Boulevard and South Main Street are much too wide and encourage high speed and high volume traffic.

Students socializing Downtown on Main Street

Cyclist at South Brock Commons

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

62

PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION

The main campus contains an extensive pedestrian network within the Longwood “Triangle.�

This network reinforces the quiltlike pattern of public spaces.

Brock Commons is the northsouth spine, is heavily used and connects to nearly everything else on the main campus. The east-west streets, some of which are closed, or partially closed, to traffic, like Madison, Redford and Franklin Streets provide cross connections.

Memorable places

The following issues should be addressed, however, as the campus expands over time: 1

Establish a clear hierarchy of northsouth and east-west paths off the spine to reinforce place making and wayfinding strategies.

2

Create stronger links to Lancer Park, the former Buffalo Shook lot, downtown, and other offsite commercial, recreational and residential areas.

3

Create clear, strong links to the campus from South Main Street.

4

Better utilize frontage on the west side of South Main as a multi-modal, northsouth pedestrian and bikeway corridor.

5

Create a legible path system that extends Brock Commons south of Franklin Street as well as links Griffin Boulevard to South Main Street and High Street to Moton School.

Open space

Pedestrian network

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A. Primary entry point with inefficient traffic operations also affecting pedestrian conditions.

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Pedestrian Environment and Access

The Campus

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Analysis and Discovery

I. Observed “natural” pedestrian crossing

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K. High volumes of pedestrians with multiple points of vehicular conflict

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J. General • Unpleasant walking environment • Narrow sidewalk • Wide street • Adjacent wall • No buffer

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LEGEND BARROW

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Wide Street

N. Restricted access to parking garage confusing for some users

G O. Circulation pattern is confusing

Street opportunities

Pedestrian/Vehicle Conflict Areas - Higher density of crossings - Measurable vehicular volumes - “Wide” streets with less friction to slow vehicles

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

64

BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL TIMES

The following are the travel times, for cyclists and pedestrians, from the geographic center of the main campus to the geographic heart of key satellite Longwood properties.

LANCER PARK To Main Campus:

8 minute Bike 10 minute Walk

To Main Street:

5 minute Bike 10 minute Walk

To LW Estate:

14 minute Bike 35 minute Walk

To LW Village:

LANCER PARK

MAIN STREET

21 minute Bike 58 minute Walk

MAIN CAMPUS To Lancer Park:

8 minute Bike 10 minute Walk

To Main Street:

3 minute Bike 7 minute Walk

To LW Estate:

10 minute Bike 30 minute Walk

To LW Village:

11 minute Bike 47 minute Walk

MAIN CAMPUS

LONGWOOD ESTATE

LONGWOOD VILLAGE To Main Campus:

11 minute Bike 47 minute Walk

To Main Street:

16 minute Bike 50 minute Walk

To Lancer Park:

21 minute Bike 58 minute Walk

To LW Estate:

13 minute Bike 50 minute Walk

JOHNSTON DRIVE To Main Campus:

To Main Street:

To LW Village:

To Lancer Park:

10 minute Bike 30 minute Walk

LEGEND

LEGEND

Major Entries

9 minute Bike 25 minute Walk

LONGWOOD VILLAGE

13 minute Bike 50 minute Walk

Minor Entries Bike Travel Time

On Campus Major Intersections

<10 minutes:

Major Vehicular TO: KEYSVILLE

14 minute Bike 35 minute Walk

Bike and pedestrian opportunities

Off Campus <10 minutes <30 minutes

Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

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Trails • Evaluate potential for off-street trail connections to existing neighborhood trails and to High Bridge Trail −− Lighting & public safety −− “All weather/any time of day” −− Bikeways

LANCER PARK

• Evaluate quiet streets for potential to create shared routes within campus and in town • Griffin Boulevard and Main Street as designated bike facilities • Internal campus streets as designated bike facilities • Off-street (multiuse path) trail connection to Lancer Village MAIN CAMPUS • Evaluate need for bike parking • Campus-wide bikeshare rental

Pedestrians JOHNSTON DRIVE FA RM VI LL

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• Opportunities for shared streets/zones

TO W

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• Close gaps in sidewalk network internally and externally • Logic in crosswalk locations • Consistency in treatments at crosswalks

LEGEND Longwood Property Existing Trails Potential Trails Existing Water Routes

LONGWOOD VILLAGE Trails

Historical / Cultural Site Major Trail Intersection

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

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TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION BUS AND SHUTTLE

Findings • Existing transit operated by the Farmville Area Bus system −− Blue Line −− Express Line −− Campus Shuttle

Considerations • FAB Express Line −− One round trip route traveling “counter-clockwise” −− First route starts at 12:00 p.m. Monday – Saturday −− Last route starts at 7:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 10:30 p.m. Friday - Saturday −− Round trip takes 30 minutes −− 25 cent fare (Longwood students ride free)

• Existing service does not serve Longwood University well −− Routes are too long/indirect −− Span of service is too short −− Service is too infrequent • Consider Longwood-specific service −− Route tailored to Longwood’s points of interest −− Span of service consistent with faculty, student and staff activity periods/schedules −− Frequent service −− Routes that are linear, not "loops"

Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

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KEY DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATIONS

The Facilities Condition Index has rated the condition of a number of buildings in the core area poor to very poor, some in important locations, which should be considered, therefore, candidates for renovation and adaptive re-use: Greenwood Library, Wygal, Lankford, Willett and Coyner Halls, Curry-Frazer Residence Halls, and South Tabb. Others can be considered as “opportunity sites” for as yet undesignated new programs and facilities or key sites for identified future facilities: Bristow Hall and its associated parking lot, Barlow Hall, South Ruffner Hall, Graham Hall, and the varsity tennis courts.

The plan must also accommodate construction of buildings identified in the Vision 2020 plan: the Upchurch University Center, Student Success Center, new Academic Building, new Admissions Office, and the soon to be completed ARC Quad Residence Halls along with the renovation and re-purposing projects mentioned above.

What results is a series of active projects from the Vision 2020 plan, new projects on key sites as identified by the 2025 Master Plan, as well as other “opportunity sites” for future programming considerations out to 2039 and beyond—all of which will allow for a logical extension of the public space framework at Longwood and make strong physical connections to neighborhoods and precincts beyond the core campus.

The areas for future development include south campus, the Venable Triangle, the West Redford Entry, South Main Street corridor, and at the intersection of High Street and Griffin Boulevard.

LEGEND FCI SCALE Good (under .05) Fair (.05 - .1) Poor (.1 - .4) Very Poor (over .4) Candidates for Re-Purposing Planned Buildings

Poorly rated building facilities

Planned buildings and candidates for repurposing

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

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VISION 2020 PROJECTS

Projects and initiatives that emerged from the Vision 2020 Master Plan—many of which are already in construction and the balance of which are in advanced stages of development— that the 2025 Master Plan will take into consideration are:

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7. Coyner and Wygal Hall Renovations

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ROBERT RUSSA MOTON MUSEUM

Longwood Property Longwood Buildings Planned Longwood Buildings and Athletic / Recreational Facilities

Campus map

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5. South Tabb Office of Graduate and Professional Studies

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4. Lankford Renovation

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Analysis and Discovery

The Campus

IMPLIED CAMPUS STRUCTURE AND CAPACITY

Using the Public Realm Framework as a diagram for Longwood’s expansion, one could extend this North–South and EastWest structure of open spaces, streets, and pedestrian corridors; identify key development sites to reinforce this structure; and extrapolate a “carrying capacity” that results in a high quality network of public space.

Using buildings of comparable size and scale, the Main Campus can accommodate an additional one million square feet with buildings at 2-3 stories.

Full build out

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Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

70

STRATEGIC PLANNING ISSUES AND GOALS

The Analysis Phase of the Master Plan concluded with the development of a series of Strategic Planning Issues and Goals.

1

Maximizing the energy of the campus

• Concentrate activities on, and around, the main campus.

• Reinforce the use of existing interior and exterior campus space.

• Incorporate more mixed use settings.

The physical planning and design initiatives that would flow from these goals would include: • Extend Brock Commons south and consolidate and reconfigure field sports and tennis at the southern portion of the “main triangle.”

• Initiate sensitive infill on existing, underutilized sites (large and small) on campus.

• Explore the opportunities that the Venable Triangle presents to be more of a seam and a bridge to downtown Farmville, rather than a wedge, and locate, potentially, student housing and academic uses there.

Analysis and Discovery

2

Improving the visual identity of the campus

• Develop a consistent and legible architectural and landscape design palette for all future construction projects.

• Focus design efforts on key campus “edge” streets—High and South Main Streets and Griffin Boulevard—and their critical intersections with the campus and the community.

• Create successful campus gateways, approaches and an orchestrated arrival experience.

Above Dorrill Dining Hall at night

The Campus

3

Contributing to the revitalization of Farmville

• What shared-use facilities should be considered and incorporated into the plan? Multi-purpose, assembly, exhibition, lecture, concert, and athletics venues.

• What are the strategic locations (on or off campus) that have the potential to be a catalyst for activity, economic stimulus and to better integrate Longwood and Farmville?

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4

Enhancing connections between the Moton Museum and Longwood

• Create a clear, walkable connection to the Moton Museum.

• How to extend the pedestrian public realm south of Madison Street along Brock Commons, Race and South Main Street, in anticipation of future campus growth beyond what is required by the current program and master plan?

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus

72

ANALYSIS SUMMARY

With the Guiding Principles and Longwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Strategic Plan in mind, the Master Planning effort took as its assignment several physical planning and design principles.

Existing aerial of Main Campus

1

Maintain the scale of the existing campus

A campus population of approximately 6,000 students populating individual, smaller scale brick and masonry buildings of two to three stories in height.

2

Use of the historic campus as the model for future growth

Take clues from Longwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best buildings and open spaces to unify the campus and create a common language of architecture and landscape that enhances the Longwood identity.

Analysis and Discovery

3

Develop the campus as a quilt

An orthogonal fabric of streets and pedestrian ways that create quads, malls, plazas and gardens framed by handsome, modestly scaled buildings.

The Campus

4

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Apply the principles of New Urbanism to campus planning

Create a series of compact, walkable, cohesive, mixed use precincts tied together by a variety of memorable open spaces, paths, shared streets, and pedestrian ways. Connecting ways and prominent sites should terminate in meaningful destinations.

The University should have a strong physical interface with, and connections to, the surrounding community.

Beale Plaza

Wheeler Mall

Longwood University Master Plan

Campus-wide Framework

Proposed improvements to the Race Street Stormwater Pond

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Longwood University Master Plan

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Introduction

In this section, we relate campuswide issues and systemsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;land use, open space landscape, built form, circulation, and parking, to campus structureâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; in order to develop the most appropriate approaches to future development.

Aerial view of the existing campus in 2016

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Campus-wide Framework

Land Use

The Framework Plan identifies several categories of use: academic, administration (including institutional functions), cultural arts, community facilities, residential, student life, and commercial. The framework broadly interprets each category to include all associated and supporting activities. This pattern identifies locational criteria that should help Longwood select sites for proposed uses, that will reinforce programmatic and physical connections throughout the campus, and that will encourage a more mixed use campus.

ATHLETICS & RECREATION

ADMINISTRATION

COMMUNITY & CULTURAL

COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY

RESIDENTIAL

ACADEMIC & RESEARCH

ADMINISTRATION PARKING

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL STUDENT LIFE RESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION & SUPPORT COMMUNITY & CULTURAL ATHLETICS & COMMUNITY

ACADEMIC & SHARED USE

RESIDENTIAL

ACADEMIC & RECREATION RESIDENTIAL

ATHLETICS & RECREATION

LEGEND MOTON MUSEUM & CULTURAL

Neighborhood grid

Use framework

ACADEMICS RESIDENTIAL STUDENT LIFE COMUNITY & CULTURE ATHLETICS & RECREATION ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION & SUPPORT PARKING

Longwood University Master Plan

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Open Space and Landscape

Open space types combine to create a landscape structure that can be reinforced as shown in the Open Space Framework drawing, to further link the many parts of the campus, town and its neighborhoods.

A hierarchy of open space types will form the landscape structure of Longwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus.

These are lawns, malls and commons, quads, courtyards, gardens, streets, walks, fields, and surface parking.

While many existing landscape spaces need refurbishment and maintenance, the University will also create an entirely new generation of spaces in selecting from the projects illustrated in the Master Plan.

LEGEND Open Space Open Space Connections Main Street Connection

Open space framework

Campus-wide Framework

Open Space and Landscape

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TYPES OF OPEN SPACE

Lawns

Malls and Commons

Lawns include those spaces of generous setbacks that create informal, tree-shaded, open space. These include the High Street front door and the Main Street frontage at Curry/Frazer Halls. A main entrance to Campus will be created where Brock Commons meets High Street. Additionally, the Master Plan recommends enhancing and extending the High Street lawn East-West from the reconfigured Oak/High/Griffin intersection into Venable Block.

The Curry/Frazer frontages form a critical link between north and south portions of campus (from the Health and Fitness Center to the proposed multi-purpose performance venues at Redford and Venable Streets). This space should be more accessible and inviting from Main Street and draw the public into the campus.

Malls and Commons are the grand linear spaces of the campus. As the main spine of the campus, the visual and physical clarity and continuity of Brock Commons is critical. The Master Plan recommends establishing a clear hierarchy of landscape elementsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;tree types and spacing in the creation of formal allees, pedestrian walks, consistent lighting, ground plane materials, and seating to establish consistency, while informal plantings, fountains, sculpture, and specialized furnishings will provide accent and diversity at key points along the way.

Wheeler Mall

Wheeler Mall will be enhanced through additional rows of trees and, at this important crossroads of campus, a reconfiguration of the hardscape at the Beale plaza fountain.

Longwood University Master Plan

Open Space and Landscape

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TYPES OF OPEN SPACE

Streets

Walks

Streets are, potentially, linear open spaces that also provide access, address, service, and parking. Their most important function, however, is providing the setting for pedestrian movement.

Street design should promote and maintain attractive, safe, and durable pedestrian zones. The principle landscape goal is to create extraordinary outdoor rooms, attractive vehicular and pedestrian corridors where the climate is tempered by handsome trees creating a canopy over the streets and sidewalks.

Walks designate appropriate routes between buildings or through open spaces, courtyards, quadrangles, parks and gardens, as well as walkways that will better link the campus with surrounding neighborhoods and destinations. The Master Plan reinforces and extends the North-South and East-West pattern of walkways from High Street to the Moton Museum, and Griffin Boulevard to South Main Street.

A new pedestrian way will connect the southern terminus of Brock Commons and the Moton Museum. Upgraded streetscape improvements and tree-lined sidewalks complete the network (East Madison, West Redford and Franklin, Race, Pine, Spruce and Venable Streets).

The vehicular framework introduces the concept of street types to create a hierarchy of streets-- from primarily vehicular to primarily pedestrian, from publicly to privately owned, from heavily to minimally landscaped. The realization of these types will reinforce the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal of a more integrated pedestrian-oriented environment.

Main Street

An important recommendation of the Master Plan is that South Main Street and Griffin Boulevard, from the Moton Museum north, should be reconfigured to be considerably more pedestrian friendly, bicycle friendly and less of a motor vehicle thoroughfare. Through a combination of lane reductions, lane narrowing and the introduction of bicycle lanes, a planting verge with street trees and widened sidewalks, South Main Street and Griffin Boulevard can be greatly enhanced aesthetically and pedestrian safety greatly improved.

Brock Commons

Campus-wide Framework

Open Space and Landscape

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Quads

Courtyards, Plazas and Gardens

Quads are those larger rectilinear spaces shaped by a grouping of buildings. Salient design issues arise out of concurrent but conflicting activities by divergent users. Size, durability, and security are critical concerns. Common problems include conflicts between active and passive uses; recreation, informal sports and social events versus study and rest; overuse due to lack of open space; deterioration caused by maintenance and service use or accommodation by large seasonal events. The Master Plan attempts to sort out land usage conflicts by the incorporation of many open space sizes and types, as well as recommending major upgrades/transformations of two of the University's most highly used quad spaces—Iler Field and Lankford/Stubbs Mall.

Courtyards, Plazas, and Gardens are those smaller, more intimate outdoor spaces shaped by one or more buildings. There are many opportunities to expand upon Longwood’s tradition of gardenlike spaces as well as to develop a new generation of these exterior “rooms.” The framework plan suggests new spaces between Lancaster/Jarman/Chichester Halls; academic sites at Oak/High Street and between Cox/Wheeler Halls; courtyards at Tabb Hall, and formed by the two new Residence Halls and ARC Hall, smaller spaces along Brock Commons between the Greenwood Library and the Wygal Center; and plaza spaces within Venable Triangle fronting on South Main and Longwood Landings. These spaces will offer the University a variety of, and a new type of, smaller scaled open spaces for a variety of specified (or spontaneous) uses.

Bedford Hall Courtyard

High Street

Longwood University Master Plan

Open Space and Landscape

TYPES OF OPEN SPACE

Fields Fields on campus are the large, relatively level, open areas of turf or grass used primarily for recreation and athletics. There will be a major physical and visual transformation to the south portion of campus as proposed in the framework plan with the consolidation of athletic facilities here. The principal issues to consider will be grading and drainage, irrigation, choice of playing surface, lighting, safety and security, as well as access to and through these fields from central campus to the Moton Museum and South Main Street.

First Avenue Field will also see a major upgrade with pedestrian connections via Redford, Franklin and Fayette Streets.

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Campus-wide Framework

MALLS AND QUADS

The iconic campus typology characterized by generous lawn spaces with a perimeter shaded by deciduous, high canopy trees accommodates large ceremonial gatherings and informal recreational use.

The general typology applies to two subcategories which share predominance of lawn as ground plane beneath deciduous high canopy: Mall and Quad.

LEGEND Quads, Malls & Fields Open Spaces

Open Space and Landscape

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Longwood University Master Plan

Open Space and Landscape

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MALLS AND QUADS

Mall

Quads & Fields

Wheeler Mall, Lankford-Stubbs Mall and Hull Promenade.

Iller Field, South Campus Fields, First Ave Field and Lancer Field

Components

Components

• Ground plane: largely grass with some pathway paving.

• Ground plane: grass, some areas of simple groundcover or mulch, and diverse layered garden plantings along edges of lawn.

• High Canopy: deciduous groves and allees.

• High Canopy: mixed deciduous and evergreen grove.

Recommendations Recommendations • Maintain lawn as the predominant ground plane planting.

• Maintain a diverse, deciduous canopy; select natives over non-natives.

• Introduce more groundcover and mulch areas beneath trees in low-use areas.

• Develop garden plantings at edges of Brock Commons.

• Maintain lawn as the predominant ground plan planting.

• Create shaded inviting edges to large open lawns by providing a continuous tree canopy.

• Develop garden spaces with diverse and layered plantings at the edge of lawn areas.

Wheeler Mall

Lankford Mall

Campus-wide Framework

Open Space and Landscape

Malls and Quad Plant Palette

Plantings in this typology should build on the existing rich palette of deciduous trees already represented on campus. Quad spaces should feature the same palette of deciduous high canopy trees where sufficient space allows; smaller natives such as yellowwood may work better in close proximity to buildings.

P L A N T I N G L AY E R S

CANOPY

SUBCANOPY

SHRUBS G R O U N D COV E R S

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Longwood University Master Plan

GARDENS

Defining the core fabric of campus, the Garden typology includes three subcategories: Ornamental Gardens, Edge Gardens, and Stormwater Gardens. The spaces included in this typology are characterized by having a smaller scale and finite boundaries.

Strongly associated with adjacent buildings, pedestrian circulation and outdoor gathering spaces for small groups, the Garden zone is the rich interstitial fabric of the campus and the most diverse typology.

LEGEND Garden Edge Garden Ornamental Open Space

Open Space and Landscape

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Campus-wide Framework

Open Space and Landscape

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Ornamental Gardens Courtyards, near buildings Components

Recommendations

• Ground plane: perennials and groundcovers, bulbs.

• Replace grass with ground cover as much as possible in low use areas.

• Shrubs: medium scale, mainly native.

• Add low maintenance beds of ornamental native groundcovers, shrubs and bulbs.

• Subcanopy: ornamental natives.

• High Canopy: deciduous grove.

• Anticipate event requirements, regrade as possible without impacting trees to accommodate tents, tables and other outdoor furniture.

• Where grass is used, plant shade tolerant species requiring less mowing, maintenance.

• Adopt sustainable turf management strategies where possible.

• Screen large adjacent structures to enhance privacy and create an intimate sense of scale.

• Select trees for compatibility with other plantings.

Longwood University Master Plan

Open Space and Landscape

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GARDENS

Edge Gardens Edges of Brock Commons, spaces near buildings and parking lots

Components

Recommendations

• Groundplane: groundcovers.

• Create inviting, sculptural garden spaces for casual and classroom use.

• Shrubs: medium scale, mainly native.

• Supplement lawn areas with mixed groundcovers and low shrubs.

• Subcanopy: ornamentals and evergreen.

• High Canopy: mixed deciduous and evergreen grove.

• Enhance pedestrian experience through diversity of plantings along paths between central campus and perimeters.

Campus-wide Framework

Open Space and Landscape

Ornamental and Edge Garden Palette Plantings in the Garden typology should continue an existing emphasis on ornamental qualities; native plants are preferred but select non-natives may be included.

For maintenance reasons, native trees, shrubs, groundcovers and bulbs should provide primary ornamental interest with perennials occurring mainly in the ornamental garden zone within discrete, defined beds.

P L A N T I N G L AY E R S

CANOPY

S U B CA N O P Y

SHRUBS G R O U N D COV E R S

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Longwood University Master Plan

Open Space and Landscape

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GARDENS

Stormwater Gardens Creating areas for storm water collection and filtration will mitigate runoff velocity and improve water quality.

Opportunities for these are at the Race Street bio-retention pond, at Spruce Street and along roads and paths.

Components

Recommendations

• Groundplane: meadow or other native groundcover mix.

• Expand the existing stormwater pond on Race Street to an accessible didactic wetland with a boardwalk and diverse native plant species.

• Shrubs: low, hydric-tolerant, stabilizing.

• Canopy: native, hydric-tolerant.

• Add an extensive network of bioretention cells along existing roads and impervious sidewalks.

• Restore ecological function and expand native plant habitat along Gross Creek and upstream from Race Street Stormwater Pond.

• Incorporate Stormwater gardens into all new construction projects.

Campus-wide Framework

Open Space and Landscape

Stormwater Gardens Palette Bioretention areas within a campus setting should have well-defined, maintained edges.

Plantings should be primarily a mix of native low shrubs and groundcovers, which are tolerant of varying soil moisture conditions and salt. Low grasses, ferns and wildflowers should be planted as plugs or container plants rather than by seed for quicker cover.

Meadow plantings require careful monitoring within the first few years to remove weeds and fill gaps until fully established.

P L A N T I N G L AY E R S

CANOPY

S U B CA N O P Y

SHRUBS G R O U N D COV E R S

Understory and canopy trees may also be included within bioretention areas of sufficient size. Care should be taken when specifying soils for bioretention areas, and plants should be chosen based on their ability to thrive in fluctuating hydrologic conditions.

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Longwood University Master Plan

STREETSCAPES

This typology is characterized by a strong emphasis on native indigenous plants with the capacity to contribute to water quality, habitat, shade, and diversity. This typology includes two subcategories: Street Tree Planting and Storm water Bioretention, which is proposed for most roads on, and around, the campus as well as along internal shared streets.

LEGEND Street Tree Planting External Stormwater Zones Internal Stormwater Zones Open Space

Open Space and Landscape

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Campus-wide Framework

Open Space and Landscape

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Street Trees

Plantings along streets should include a diverse array of large canopy trees that will provide shade for all road users while tolerating poor soils, pollution from vehicles, salt during winter, and periods of drought.

Native species are preferred, but select naturalized species can be used if appropriate. Diversity in species selection is recommended to ensure long term health and minimize risk of pest infestation and disease.

Redford Street

Longwood University Master Plan

Open Space and Landscape

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STREETSCAPES

Street Tree Planting Consistent rows of tree planting provide shade and physical separation for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a habitat for birds and other wildlife. The streets that should be condensed for additional and/or enhanced Street Tree Planting include:

Components • Canopy: native, diverse.

Recommendations

• • • • • •

Main Street Griffin Boulevard Race Street Madison Street Redford Street Venable Street

• • • • •

Spruce Street Franklin Street Pine Street Wynne Drive Streets bordering the First Avenue Field

• Institute a street tree planting project along Griffin Boulevard, Race Street and Main Street.

• Select tough native species that are pollution and salt-tolerant.

Campus-wide Framework

Open Space and Landscape

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Stormwater Bioretention Areas for stormwater collection and infiltration mitigate runoff velocity and improve water quality, while providing habitat for wildlife and educational opportunities for students and faculty.

• Main Street • Griffin Boulevard • Race Street

Components • Groundplane: hydric meadow or other native groundcover mix.

• Shrubs: low, hydric-tolerant, stabilizing.

• Canopy: native, hydric-tolerant.

Recommendations • Retrofit Griffin Boulevard, Race Street, Main Street, and any other street being renovated with in-line stormwater infiltration facilities.

Longwood University Master Plan

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Vehicular Circulation and Parking

VEHICULAR CIRCULATION

The long term goal of the vehicular network is to create a more pedestrian oriented environment not only on campus, but more importantly, along peripheral streets where Longwood and Farmville come together.

The southern end of campus is in need of a more rational street grid network. Attention is given to several key intersections where vehicular and pedestrian conflicts occur.

As part of this framework, the concept of street types is introduced to provide a functional and design hierarchy for all streets affecting the main campus, regardless of ownership. These include South Main Street, High Street and Griffin Boulevard as primary frontage streets; Madison Street, Redford Street, Pine Street, Franklin Street and relocated Wynne Drive, to be renamed “Edmunds Street” (to underscore the intention of the Master Plan that the adjoining neighborhoods should flow through campus, and to be consistent with typical campus street naming conventions) as campus mixeduse and through streets; Vine, Venable and Spruce Streets (as well as one block of Buffalo Street) as “shared streets”; and several service access points and ways to campus.

South Main Street and Griffin Boulevard are critical frontages to Longwood and potential seams to the adjoining neighborhoods— but neither works very well as either, as they are currently configured, and should, therefore, be addressed. There are a number of ideas that are worth considering to address the connectivity (cross-ability) and pedestrian and cyclist safety issues, and worth working with the Town of Farmville to achieve. Among them are: 1. Reducing South Main Street to one lane in each direction 2. Reducing the lane widths on Griffin Boulevard 3. Providing a bicycle lane on the Longwood edge of each street 4. Providing a planting verge of eighteen (18) to twenty-four (24) inches wide and providing street trees in that verge on both sides of each street 5. Providing sidewalks on both sides of both streets of gracious widths, with the planting verge and street trees separating pedestrian/bicycle and motor vehicle traffic.

To achieve all of this will involve land (and street) ownership issues and cooperation and collaboration with the Town of Farmville and Longwood University. If achieved, however, the proposed interventions would transform in extraordinarily positive ways the arrival and approach experience to both the University and the Town, and would significantly improve connectivity to the adjacent neighborhoods and public safety.

There are two street types recommended for the campus. The first is a narrow two way street with curbside parking with 3’-5’ tree malls and 5’ sidewalks. These streets will be pedestrian in nature, shared by all types of vehicles and bikes. They can incorporate special paving at campus walkway crossings, as well as a campus-wide palette of lighting and streetscape furnishings. They will function as linear open spaces. Portions of four streets are proposed to become Shared Streets. Due to their limited traffic function, they are essentially pedestrian walks, closed to traffic, but open for limited times for emergency access and service, move in days, etc. One lane, 12’-15’ wide, will accommodate vehicles and bikes, and can be specially paved.

They become part of the open space network of the campus. Venable, between Madison and Redford is proposed for closure, to traffic—to eliminate a dangerous intersection at Redford and South Main Streets.

Campus-wide Framework

The critical intersection of Griffin Boulevard, High and Oak Streets is proposed to be reconfigured in order to: one, rationalize and simplify a confusing intersection; two, ensure slower moving traffic for increased safety and security; three, provide a safer pedestrian friendly crossing; and four, increase the landscape opportunities at this important gateway.

This is possible through a realignment of Griffin Boulevard, north of Madison Street, as it meets High Street, to create a much more rational (and safe) intersection.

LEGEND Town Streets Campus Streets Shared Streets Service Streets

Vehicular Circulation and Parking

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Longwood University Master Plan

Vehicular Circulation and Parking

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PARKING FRAMEWORK

The Parking Framework is a comprehensive strategy for the main campus that addresses: 1

Existing Supply and Demand

2

Planned Growth in the Student, Faculty and/or Staff Population, where applicable

3

Planned Capital Improvements that will displace existing parking supply, and ultimately, future demand

With respect to the Existing Supply and Demand, the University has sufficient parking to meet its needs in space count, but perhaps not with respect to convenience. More simply put, there is plenty of parking to meet the University’s demand currently, but the parking may not be located in the most desirable, or optimal, places.

Existing Supply: 2,763 Parking Spaces Projected Future Demand: 3,100 - 3,200 Parking Spaces Approximately 2,950 parking spaces will be readily attainable even after the construction of the new buildings conceived as a part of the Vision 2020 Master Plan and those conceived as a part of this current Master Plan. That suggests, potentially, a shortfall of between 150 to 250 spaces.

As the University grows, and land is consumed for other uses (new buildings, athletic fields, facilities, etc.), Longwood will simply not have adequate availability of land to accommodate its parking needs. An overarching parking strategy will be required to manage parking demands.

That strategy entails a four-pronged approach to meeting parking needs as demand grows over time: •

Strategic Consolidation and Expansion of Surface Parking Lots proximate to Campus, and the Addition of On-Street Parking wherever possible

•

“Car Storage” Parking off the Main Campus at, potentially, Lancer Park and Longwood Village

This will require review of policies for, and management of, parking, including: •

Changing the way supply is managed

•

Providing more satellite parking that is served by transit

•

Incentives for carpooling and non-drivers

•

Modification of parking pricing to underwrite the cost of transit, etc.

•

Leasing Private or Town-owned Surface Lots within easy walking distance of Campus and/or pursuing Public-Private Partnerships for the construction of structured parking. And, finally:

•

Structured Parking on, or immediately adjacent to, the Main Campus

Two sites have been identified for potential, future, multi-level parking structures: •

On the west side of South Main Street off of Madison Street, north of the proposed new Performing Arts Center (PAC). This would serve day-to-day parking needs and also event parking for the new PAC and the Multi-Purpose venue in the expanded Willett Hall.

•

On east side of South Main Street, across from Wynne Drive and Hooper Streets. This would serve day-to-day parking needs and also event parking for sporting events.

Vehicular Circulation and Parking

Campus-wide Framework

The Parking Framework addresses solutions to the long-term parking demands, as Longwood grows, in the following categories: • •

•

•

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L

L

Surface Parking Lots Street Parking along several internal streets: Madison, Redford, Race and Pine Streets, as well as Wynne (“Edmunds Street”) Drive

L

L L

L

Satellite Surface Parking Lots: Lancer Park and Longwood Village P

Leased Surface Parking Lots throughout town

•

Parking Under Lots where grade is accommodating on future development sites, such as at the Venable Triangle and just south of Franklin Street

•

Parking Trays, where grade is amenable— these are much more affordable than multiple level parking decks P

•

Structured Parking, when funds are available

LEGEND Curbside Parking Potential Below Grade Parking At Grade Lot Structured Parking

P

Shared / Leased Lots

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Perimeter Surface Parking Lots: Wheeler-Cox, Longwood Landings, Vernon, Virginia and Putney Streets

•

L

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Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation

PEDESTRIAN FRAMEWORK

The pedestrian framework for Longwood—its routes and destinations—provides a rich overlay to the structure of Longwood and the surrounding public realm.

The basic orthogonal quilt diagram of the prominent campus streets and walks is the primary pedestrian circulation system, augmented by a finer-grained network of streets, campus walks and paths. The University should integrate this system seamlessly beyond its boundaries as well as locate front doors and ground floor uses of existing and new buildings in response to this system. All new paths will terminate at new open spaces signaling the extension of the public realm throughout the campus.

Brock Commons—with its historic paired sidewalks under a double row of trees—is the main North-South pedestrian promenade. We propose to extend this system south via a tree-lined block of Pine Street to a new open space at the foot of relocated Wynne Drive, southward through the athletic fields precinct to South Main and the Moton Museum grounds.

The introduction of new sidewalks and landscape along Venable, Spruce, and Race Streets and Griffin Boulevard will provide further continuity in this North-South movement connecting new and old areas of campus. The walkway on the east side of the residential halls along Griffin Boulevard will provide a new NorthSouth walk all the way from High Street to ARC Residence Hall into the athletics precinct and beyond to the Moton Museum via a potential nature walk along the creek bed. South Main Street, with its new landscape setback, walks and bike path will provide a new pedestrian route along the entire west side of the street.

The primary east-west pathways will continue to be High Street, Madison Street, Redford Street and Wheeler Mall.

Madison Street will be enhanced at its east and west ends, as extensions of its central swath—which is a high quality, highly used part of Longwood’s outdoor fabric—through a number of proposed interventions, including: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Reduction of driving widths on Madison Street and Chambers Court.

Removal of parking on Madison Street.

New landscaping and hardscape treatments.

Widening of the east-west sidewalk from Chambers Court to Main Street.

5. The introduction of a new north-south paved pathway to be centered on the entrance of Maugans Alumni Center.

To the south, a major new path will follow the new Wynne Drive entry to campus. Several additional walks will connect from South Main to the fields. The historic High Street front lawn will be enhanced by a new curvilinear walk through the trees linking the front doors of all the buildings West to East from Griffin Boulevard to Venable Street. All major intersections of pathways with Brock Commons should become special moments in the plan, incorporating fountains, sculpture seating, and other special features.

Major extensions beyond the campus will tie the sidewalks of public streets to existing and new destinations within Downtown and elsewhere. These streets will benefit from streetscape upgrades and clear pedestrian crossings. These include Redford, Franklin and Fayette Streets to First Avenue Field; Griffin Boulevard and High Street roundabout to High and Oak Streets residential neighborhoods; Randolph, Saint George and Walk2Campus midblock pathway to Buffalo Street, Admissions, the former Buffalo Shook and the Riverfront; Madison and Redford Streets to Lancer Park facilities. Buffalo and Grove Streets will see new streetscape and park designs to provide a better connection to Lancer Park.

Campus-wide Framework

LEGEND Primary Paths Secondary Paths Pedestrian Destinations

Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation

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Longwood University Master Plan

Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation

BIKEWAY FRAMEWORK

There is a recognition at the University that bicycle use for transportation and recreation tends to be limited and that the more preferred modes of transportation are pedestrian, skateboards and motor vehicle.

Primarily as a way to further reduce motor vehicle traffic, and the attendant parking demands, there is a desire on the part of the University to be, physically, more bicycle-friendly and to promote greater use of the bicycle as a mode of transportation.

Currently, there are physical impediments to this, which may explain why cycling on, around, to and from campus is limited.

Simply adding more bicycle racks will not have the desired effect.

A larger strategy and plan that can be implemented is required.

The physical impediments are twofold: •

The routes to and from campus are far too dominated by the motor vehicle, particularly two of Longwood's three primary campus edges— Griffin Boulevard and South Main Street—which are configured in ways that can, in fact, be hazardous to bicyclists and pedestrians.

•

Crossing campus at certain locations is not very convenient due to a combination of factors like topography, stairs, lack of connectivity of streets and paved pathways, and other obstacles.

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Campus-wide Framework

LEGEND

Potential Primary Bike Storage Potential Primary Bike Routes Potential Farmville Bike Routes

Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation

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Longwood University Master Plan

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Utilities and Infrastructure

FUTURE CAMPUS PLANNING

STEAM

The building projects most likely to occur over the next 20 years have been included to ensure adequate utility system capacity. These were divided into the following phases:

Steam Generation

Typically, the firm boiler capacity is larger than the peak steam load to ensure that the boiler plant is able to generate adequate steam during an outage scenario.

• Future Longwood Buildings • Proposed Master Plan Buildings −− Near-Term −− Mid-Term −− Long-Term −− When Opportunity is Presented

The Future Longwood Buildings are projects that are currently in the design or construction phases, which include the following: Demolish Cunningham Residence Halls (completed) (119,883) gsf 74,000 gsf Upchurch University Center 42,000 gsf New Academic Building 21,000 gsf Admissions Office 25,000 gsf Student Success Center 55,000 gsf Register and Sharp Residence Halls Total

Longwood University owns and operates the central steam system which consists of two heating plants and the distribution piping installed throughout campus. Both the Old Heating Plant and the New Heating Plant have two operational boilers each.

97,117 gsf

Longwood University had a “Steam Distribution Tunnel Study” completed in 2015 (see Appendix) that identified the existing conditions and potential future needs for the main campus. The study had identified that the existing peak steam load for the site was approximately 55,000 pounds per hour (pph). The estimated peak steam load is only slightly above the firm capacity of the campus. If the campus steam load is not able to be reduced with steam piping replacements or building conservations, then the installation of an additional boiler or the replacement Boiler No. 4 is required with the construction of the next significant building. This would ensure that the peak steam load will stay below the firm capacity of the site.

Steam Distribution Included in the 2015 study was a steam hydraulic analysis for existing and proposed future conditions (see Appendix). Based upon the future conditions identified in the study, none of the existing steam distribution piping would need to be enlarged if it is replaced due to deterioration or other factors.

Campus-wide Framework

Utilities and Infrastructure

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COOLING

ELECTRIC

With the exception of a small group of buildings around Ruffner Hall, air conditioning for existing buildings is provided by individual systems located within the associated facility. In order to increase operating efficiency and minimize the number of outdoor mechanical units in the campus landscape, the University wishes to centralize chilled water equipment. The recommendation in the 2012 Chilled Water Master Plan (see Appendix) identified the need to install two chiller plants including the North Chiller Plant with a total chiller capacity of 2,400 tons and a South Chiller Plant with a total capacity of 7,200 tons.

The University currently has multiple buildings on the northern portion of campus connected to a centralized substation. The main North Substation is currently supplied power from two different feeders from the utility.

The study had identified over 3.0 million gsf of existing future building area to be connected to the two plants. Based upon the current planning, the estimated building area to be connected to the chilled water system is approximately 2.3 million gsf. So, the capacities of the chiller plants identified in the study are still valid.

The University should undertake a planning effort to supplement the 2012 Chilled Water Master Plan. This supplement should develop a transition plan that incorporates connection to a central chiller plant in all buildings designed prior to the construction of the central plant.

The supplement should leverage each individual building project to develop as much of the chilled water central plant infrastructure as possible that will be required to support that particular building.

Each step in the transition plan should be developed with a holistic view to the design of the entire chilled water system.

Longwood Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heating Plant is fueled with recycled sawdust

The buildings on the southern portion of campus are individually metered from the utility company. Each building is supplied by only one source from the University. With the construction of the South Chiller Plant, there is an opportunity to construct a new South Substation to connect existing and future buildings. The University would like the substation to be similar to the existing North Substation, where the utility company owns and maintains the transformer and the power is distributed at 480 Volts.

The installation of the South Substation will increase the reliability to each building if the utility company supplies the substation with two feeders. A site plan indicating the general location of the two substations is presented in the Appendix.

The University is also interested in centralizing the emergency power generation equipment. This can only be accomplished when the future South Substation is constructed. The consolidation of the emergency equipment will help reduce maintenance time and fuel oil storage requirements. If the generators are allowed to operate during normal operation, they could reduce the annual electric costs for the University.

Longwood University Master Plan

Utilities and Infrastructure

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FUTURE BUILDING DESIGN

The following are recommendations to be evaluated during the design of future buildings or during the design for renovating existing buildings. These recommendations shall be re-evaluated periodically to include newer technologies.

Metering

Heating Hot Water / Steam

Every utility for every existing and future building should be metered. This will allow the University to track and identify potential issues with the building operation. This will also help identify buildings consuming more energy than anticipated and can be reviewed.

Every building will include a design for condensate recovery and return system.

Chilled Water Biomass heating plant

With the construction of the centralized chilled water system, building terminal units should be designed around water systems, and the temperature difference between supply and return water should be at least 16°F to 18°F higher, if possible.

Ventilation Building design should include exhaust energy recovery systems, including minimum outside air requirements and demand control ventilation.

A life cycle cost analysis should be completed for evaluating installing terminal units with an entering water temperature of 140°F versus a standard 180°F. The temperature difference for the hot water system should be at a minimum 30°F to 40°F. The entering water temperature of 140°F would allow for the potential installation of “greener” technologies (e.g. condensing boilers, geothermal systems, solar hot water, and heat recovery chillers).

An evaluation to generate at a minimum of 5% of the total power consumed from a sustainable source (including solar photovoltaic) should be conducted.

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Campus-wide Framework

The Campus and Sustainability

Longwood University is well positioned to be at the forefront of leadership for two great challenges of higher education: on a global scale, the preparation of young people to be “citizens of the world” and responsible stewards of our shared biosphere; and at a local level, to practice our commitment to building a sustainable community and campus.

Building on previous Longwood University sustainability initiatives, many recommendations of this master plan are grounded in design and operational strategies that promote sustainability. In 2008 Longwood adopted the definition of sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (U.N. World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987).

This criterion guides the recommendations of the Master Plan regarding efficiency standards for buildings, selection of construction materials, energy sourcing, recycling, transportation management, food sourcing, and other aspects of campus operations.

Overlaid across the key themes of the Master Plan, the sustainability-related recommendations are grouped under four broad sustainable planning principles: 1. Adopt New Urbanist planning principles for land use and transportation systems that foster a decent, prosperous, and sustainable local community 2. Strive to become a carbon-neutral campus 3. Develop a built environment with minimal environmental impact 4. Use the campus as a learning environment Implicit in the plan is the goal of creating a campus and providing leadership in the community to make Farmville a model college town where people can live, learn, and collectively flourish.

Longwood University Master Plan

The Campus and Sustainability

NEW URBANISM

CARBON-NEUTRAL CAMPUS

New Urbanism is an urban design approach which promotes a positive sense of neighborhood community and a built environment that reflects ecological practices.

The utilities section of the Master Plan proposes a number of pathways that could lead Longwood University to a significant net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2025 and a net-zero carbon status by 2039.

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Recommendations: Recommendations: • Develop sustainable neighborhoods with a diversity of academic, residential, recreational, student-life, cultural, and administrative uses throughout campus to encourage pedestrian networks, outdoor social interactions, and a vibrant community.

• Promote the use of bicycling, car sharing/rental, and public transit use in lieu of reliance on single-occupancy vehicles.

• Help energize the Farmville community and local economy by increasing pedestrian movement along Main Street and within the downtown area.

• Locate opportunities for community food gardening and permaculture, with potential sourcing to community food banks and Longwood’s dining facilities.

• Enhance and protect existing campus woodlands and create new park settings for community use.

• Relocate the sports fields from Johnston Drive to the South Precinct of campus to provide for walkable access and increased visibility of campus activities.

• Measurement of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: −− Conduct a baseline and annual tracking inventories of University greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

• Renewable Energy: −− Equip new buildings with renewable energy systems that have the capacity to provide at least 5% of the annual energy used by the facility. −− Install the planned biomass fuel boiler to increase the use of local renewable fuels and reduce fossil fuel use to five percent or less. −− Develop off-site processing capability to pre-dry biomass fuel for maximum energy efficiency. −− Seek state support and private donations for universityowned woodlands to support 100% renewable growth of the campus biomass fuel supply by 2039. −− Purchase green power to accelerate the progress towards carbon neutrality.

• Efficiency and Conservation: −− Establish campus-wide standards for equipment efficiencies (vehicles, computers and office equipment, food service equipment, and lab equipment). −− Consolidate use of buildings when possible to conserve energy during periods of low use. −− Promote behavior change programs for energy conservation and recycling.

Campus-wide Framework

The Campus and Sustainability

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

By 2025, the Master Plan anticipates that a significant number of existing buildings will be renovated, over 860,000 gross square feet (GSF) of new buildings will be constructed, and approximately 240,000 older, inefficient buildings will be demolished or renovated.

This is an ideal time to establish standards of sustainable and energy-efficient design to guide new development. The University has set LEED® Silver certification as its benchmark. In addition, the Master Plan outlines strategies to build on the significant past water conservation initiatives to further reduce potable water use, even while increasing the overall built square footage on campus.

“No institutions in modern society are better equipped to catalyze the necessary transition to a sustainable world than colleges and universities. They have access to the leaders of tomorrow and the leaders of today. What they do matters to the wider public.” –David W. Orr As an institution of higher education, Longwood University recognizes its unique opportunity to make significant contributions toward the creation of a more sustainable society through teaching, research and outreach, and by serving as a model of innovative practices and sustainable systems. The campus should be a place where environmental stewardship and innovation is promoted, interpreted, and celebrated.

Recommendations: • Develop comprehensive design guidelines for new campus buildings to include sustainable design and/ or high performance features. Following the authority of the Virginia High Performance Building Act, establish and enforce measurable design performance requirements.

• Site buildings for beneficial microclimate characteristics and provide landscaping features to minimize energy and water usage.

Recommendations: • Identify and showcase campus initiatives and built projects that demonstrate Longwood’s commitment to local and global environmental sustainability.

• Develop an accessible database of sustainability features, carbon footprint, and building energy performance to be available for student research projects; install real time energy monitors in the public areas of buildings.

• Develop and strengthen partnerships with the local community, businesses, and alumni for new sustainability initiatives.

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Built Form

In the central campus, new buildings and infill sites can reinforce this fabric by lining walks, courtyards, open spaces and streets, and continuing the design vocabulary of collegiate architecture with structures of compatible scale, proportion, building materials, massing and height. The new Upchurch University Center and Academic buildings will become exemplar of this concept. Development sites at the periphery— the west end of High Street and Venable Triangle sites—will continue this character.

Brock Commons is Longwood University’s primary piece of public realm and open space, and it is the most significant organizing element in the campus fabric. It is a long swath of a promenade that connects the campus from High Street at the North to Pine Street at the South—articulated very simply in hardscape and landscape with a “ladder” motif: parallel sidewalks flanking long, rectangular mats of lawn, with the occasional East-West crosswalk making the rungs of the ladder. It is most successful at its northern end where the buildings and street trees that define it are of sufficient scale. Primary cross streets at Madison, Redford and Franklin Streets, also employ this motif to degrees. New buildings at in-fill sites along Brock Commons should be used to reinforce the spine and its spatial quality. It is preferable if those new buildings are of a larger footprint and scale (two to three stories, minimum) in order to spatially hold together Brock Commons.

Additionally, the scale and character of landscape found at the northern end of Brock Commons should be extended south.

Longwood’s Campus architecture—typically two to three story classically detailed brick buildings set within broad lawns, malls, and quads—provides the building structure and pattern for the University.

LEGEND Existing Buildings Planned Buildings Master Plan Buildings

Campus-wide Framework

Built Form

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Top: Dorrill Dining Hall entrance Right: Willett Hall entrance

Buildings along Race Street and Griffin Boulevard should be domestic in scale and clustered around landscaped grounds to blend in with the low-scale, residential character of the area.

At the Curry-Frazer Residence Halls, a remedial re-skinning of the façades and the introduction of traditional sills and lintels would go a long way to bring it in line with the better buildings on campus.

Willett Hall should be re-skinned with more fenestration, particularly on Brock Commons.

A more welcoming and attractive entrance should be created and, perhaps, a story or two should be added to the Brock Commons façade to give it the scale it warrants.

A simple to construct faux mansard roof would give it the cap it needs and a welcoming, one-story colonnade—and a new entrance way along its eastern façade, facing South Main Street, would make a proper base for the buildings.

Longwood University Master Plan

Built Form

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Top: Bedford Hall Right: Perspective rendering of the Upchurch University Center north façade

More contemporary buildings at Longwood that, while contextual at some level, could be described as confused as they neither embrace the traditional language in play in Longwood’s more historic buildings nor are they definitively modern (like the expansion of Bedford Hall) or of a different style (like Jarman Hall).

These include the Chichester Science Center (there is no precedent at Longwood for white pilasters or commercial storefront fenestration), the pavilions on Brock Commons at Redford Street (which employ a non-order), the Greenwood Library, the east addition to the Dorrill Dining Hall and the Hull Education Center. This is not

to say that these buildings necessarily detract from Longwood’s character; they just do not meet its highest standards.

The new stock of buildings currently in planning or construction, however, do promise to live up to Longwood’s standards and contribute meaningfully to Longwood’s architectural legacy: the new Admissions Building, Academic Building, Upchurch University Center, Student Success Center and new Residence Halls.

The University should establish a series of design guidelines to be used as an aid to conduct design reviews of any proposed building at critical phases of the design

and construction process to ensure compatibility, consistency and overall unity of the Campus—or better, a small committee or architectural review board to act as Longwood’s “design conscience.” Buildings should “behave as good neighbors” and “talk to one another.” As Longwood develops, or re-develops, sites and buildings as it grows and transforms, its design consultants must take special care to sustain the unique spirit of the campus, to provide appropriate transitions from older to newer parts of campus, and to blend new construction into the adjacent, surrounding Farmville neighborhoods and downtown districts.

Campus-wide Framework

Key Development Considerations

Taking the suggested public realm framework as a guide for campus growth, there are several key areas of expansion: 1

Brock Commons and Race Street south towards the Moton Museum.

2

Eastward along Madison and along Redford corridors to the Venable Triangle and Main Street.

3

The north side of High Street proximate to Randolph and St. George streets.

Residential corridor at Wheeler Hall

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Longwood University Master Plan

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Development Sites This framework illustrates several categories of development sites for considerationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; including buildings, landscape and open space initiativesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to meet known and as yet unknown academic, administrative and student life programs.

The key is to maintain flexibility in program, building type and use requirements.

Additional sites are identified which allow a seamless expansion of the campus to evolve over time without impacting the existing nature and character of Longwood.

The categories include: 1. Vision 2020 projects (both active and continuing) 2. Master Plan 2025 project sites and major renovations 3. Opportunity sitesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;further long-term development opportunities with yet unspecified use, programs, or funding All these sites will reinforce existing building groups, open spaces and/or places on campus, as well as develop strategic physical and programmatic links to adjacent neighborhoods and Downtown Farmville.

South Campus development sites

Campus-wide Framework

Development Sites

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LEGEND Opportunity Sites Planned Buildings Master Plan Sites Modified Existing Open Space Proposed Open Space

Longwood University Master Plan

The Master Plan

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Longwood University Master Plan

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Overview, Big Ideas, and Introduction of the Precincts The Master Plan includes Seven Big Ideas that will transform the campus:

1

Brock Commons

2

The Master Plan envisions an extension of Brock Commons to the south to link the University to the new athletic precinct as well as provide an attractive connection to the Moton Museum and Lancer Field.

4

Performing Arts Center, Iler Field and Curry-Frazier Halls In addition to the renovation and expansion of Willett Hall, the University is in need of a performing arts event venue of 400 to 600 seats. The Master Plan locates the new Performing Arts Center prominently on South Main Street at the primary gateway to the University at Redford Street—a highly visible site and one that makes the Longwood PAC as much an amenity for the town as for the University.

This, coupled with the upgrades to Iler Field planned by the Master Plan, and the proposed renovations and additions to Curry-Frazer Halls, all contribute to Longwood being a welcoming neighbor to the community.

High Street and High Street Entrance

3

The Master Plan proposes that Willet Hall be expanded and renovated to better support the University’s Health, Athletic Training, Recreation and Kinesiology program, and to provide a new Multi-Purpose Hall that will accommodate 3,500 to 5,000 people.

It will also provide an important public facility that will be shared by the University, community and the surrounding region and will make Longwood and Farmville a destination.

The Master Plan envisions a series of landscape, hardscape and lighting improvements along High Street, its historic front door. With that, the Master Plan makes provisions for a new, highly visible and iconic architectural gateway to campus at the intersection of Brock Commons and High Street.

5

Reorganization of Athletics and Recreational fields The Master Plan makes a bold move, and one that directly addresses one of the projected core goals—the revitalization of downtown Farmville— by relocating the Baseball and Softball Stadiums to downtown at the former Buffalo Shook and the Depot Street sites, both off the High Bridge Trail.

This allows a complete reorganization of the South Campus Precinct and consolidation of field sports and tennis in that precinct, in a park like setting with generous landscaping. This will also address Longwood’s aesthetic issues along these important frontages.

Willett Hall

6

The Venable Triangle A first recognition was that the Venable Triangle is a wedge between the University and downtown Farmville, and it wants to be a bridge. There are rich opportunities to expand the campus eastward onto portions of Venable Triangle block with new Student Residence Halls, create a new park or plaza as a public open space and develop an important connection between the University, historic Main Street and downtown Farmville.

The Master Plan

Overview, Big Ideas, and Introduction of the Precincts

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5

7

5

South Main Street and Griffin Boulevard The enhancement of these two very important edges to the University will go a long way toward providing a friendlier pedestrian environment and more attractive gateway to downtown from the south. The Master Plan outlines a series of steps to be undertaken in concert with the Town of Farmville that include reduction in the number of traffic lanes, reduction in the width of traffic lanes, the introduction of bicycle lanes, street trees and widened sidewalks.

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Precinct Plans

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Aerial view of the existig campus in 2010

The Master Plan

Precinct Plans

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The Master plan was developed in detail by precinctâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;legible definable areas or "zones" within Longwood's real estate holdings:

South Campus

4

Along the Trail

5

Lancer Park

6

Johnston Drive

The precinct plans were then knit together into a cohesive whole, forming the Final Master Plan: Place Matters. The following pages discuss and illustrate the design thinking for each precinct.

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FA RM VI LL

Central Campus

OF

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North Campus

TO W

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North Campus

North Campus encompasses Longwood’s historic core of iconic Georgian buildings that front High Street: French, Tabb, Ruffner, Grainger and Lancaster. The classical elegance of this section of campus represents Longwood’s academic and architectural soul; it is truly one of the great college spaces in all of America.

The Master Plan aims to solidify the strength of this space, better connect it through walkways, and create a handsome pedestrian gateway to campus at the north end of campus.

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NORTH CAMPUS

| NORTH CAMPUS PRECINCT The design issues and opportunities of this area include:

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Enhancing Longwood's "Front Door"

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Longwood’s already lovely, primary face of campus, can be greatly enhanced and made more iconic and attractive by:

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• More formally defining the edge of Longwood’s “front lawn” with landscape and hardscape treatments at the edge of High Street—such as a low, continuous wall, a line of street trees • Replacing the existing, D.O.T standard lighting with attractive outdoor light posts more in keeping with Longwood's character

• Better defining its east and west ends as proper gateways to the campus • Better connecting the historic buildings fronting High Street with a new, sinuous walkway through the existing trees

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Two alternative design studies address the awkward High/Oak/ Griffin/ Appomattox intersection—reconfigured as a signalized four way intersection, a or as a non-signaled rotary. In either case Griffin is shifted to the west from Chambers Street, to provide a safe, rationalized and dramatic gateway to Longwood and Downtown from western approaches. Long term opportunity sites would frame this new gateway.

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Wheeler Mall The Master Plan proposes the reshaping and enhancement of Wheeler Mall, Beale Plaza and Brock Commons as well as establishing, or reinforcing, important view lines in and around the new Upchurch University Center and renovated Blackwell Hall. The interface of landscape and building should be seamless and the grouping of buildings and landscape should contribute to a larger whole.

High Street Gateway To greater enhance Longwood’s primary public face on historic High Street, a new formal gateway will be created at the intersection of Brock Commons and High Street, providing a dramatic, symbolic, and iconic portal to campus while at the same time creating a ceremonial meeting and gathering place that says “Longwood University.”

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East Corridor Improvements Efforts to complete the fabric of North Campus include the reorganization of the southern ends of the precinct from service yards and surface parking to a much friendlier pedestrian environment. Other contributing capital improvements include the new academic building, with its east-west walkway, the upgrades to South Tabb and Coyner Halls and the recognition of an important opportunity at the Graham Hall site to create a small quad or garden.

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Gardens There is a great opportunity here to continue the Longwood tradition of gardens, removed from the more heavily used paths and spaces, as places of quiet and refuge. A more varied, specialized application of the Longwood landscape design palette could be explored here. Sites include: spaces between Chichester and Jarman, Jarman and Lancaster, the sunken courtyard at Tabb, the new open space between the Upchurch University Center and Stevens Hall.

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The first, and perhaps most important, intervention proposed by the Master Plan for the North Campus Precinct is the reconfiguration of the five-way intersection at Griffin Boulevard, High, Oak and Appomatox Streets. In its current configuration, this intersection is exasperating to pedestrians and motorists alike, and presents serious safety concerns.

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The Master Plan proposes two alternative solutions to making this intersection more rational, more fluid and safer. Both are made possible by the proposed realignment of Griffin Boulevard north of Madison Street, rotating it to the west, which allows for a rationalized four way intersection.

Option One proposes a non-signaled, rotary intersection, which is preferred by the Master Planning team for a variety of reasons: • Rotaries allow slow-and-go traffic flow rather than stop-and-go

• Rotaries are favored by the U.S. Highway Department and the Virginia Department of Transportation

The University is working in cooperation with the Town of Farmville to improve this intersection for the larger community.

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• Rotaries significantly reduce motor vehicle accidents and accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians

Option Two proposes a normative, signaled four-way intersection at Griffin Boulevard and High Street, and a slight re-alignment of Oak Street to be a more natural, and better aligned, extension of Griffin to the north.

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• Rotaries are an opportunity to create an aesthetically pleasing and iconic gateway at this important, western entry point to campus

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"ICONIC" HIGH STREET GATEWAY

The Master Plan envisions a similar spot at the intersection of Brock Commons and High Street. A low brick wall that extends the length of High Street will form a semi-circle at the intersection, highlighting key buildings like Ruffner, reinforcing the traditional collegiate feel of North Campus and providing a magnificent pedestrian entryway.

The Northern extent of Brock Commons is made into an iconic arrival plaza to the University through the introduction of special paving framed by brick pillars and low brick. High Street is repaved with brick, further emphasizing the importance of the new campus entry threshold of the High Street Plaza.

Cross paths and stairs are also realigned to allow for direct internal access across the length of North Campus precinct.

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At many universities, there’s an iconic spot on campus—a place so central and memorable it becomes an image in the mind’s eye for the campus as a whole. The Rotunda at the University of Virginia is perhaps the most classic example.

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LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS

Sunken Courtyard Garden A hidden and underutilized space on North Campus is reclaimed as a useful and beautiful garden space for student and faculty gatherings, celebrations, and contemplation. Small retaining walls provide areas for lush native garden plantings and define the edge of the space. A new pedestrian path frames the central lawn spaces and the existing Magnolia tree.

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Chichester and Jarman Alley Garden Areas of passage on North Campus are given new life as beautiful, lush, contemplative yet dynamic garden spaces for Longwood denizens to gather, study, dine, and retreat from the bustle of the commons and malls of the main campus. Dense native garden plants and high quality site furnishings combined with integrated seating elements provide a flexible and beautiful space that helps define Longwood as a "Garden Campus."

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Jarman and Lancaster Alley Garden The interstitial space between Jarman and Lancaster Halls is currently an alley with certain challenges in the form of "backof-house" functions that tend to conspire against aesthetics. These functions include: blank brick building walls with large scale make-up air or exhaust louvers and mechanical equipment, largely exposed, that require access and maintenance.

A combination of hardscape and landscaping interventions will go a long way toward transforming this "back alley" to a lovely, linear garden, including: • Increased flexible seating with custom integrated seating elements • The space is "decluttered" by removing urns and smoking huts and replacing small double stair set with a single grand staircase • Lawn and mulch replaced with dense native perennial garden plants • Flowering understory trees added to enhance pedestrian experience

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VENABLE TRIANGLE

Perhaps the highest aspiration of the Campus Master Plan is to create seams that better connect Longwood and Farmville, encouraging foot traffic in both directions and contributing to the vitality of downtown. The triangle formed by Venable, High and Main streets is key to this endeavor, and one of the central areas of focus. The plan calls for a rethinking of the space that now feels more like a barrier than a vibrant passageway.

The plan envisions a block that is alive, with people and commerce, but on a scale that respects and honors the historic churches in and adjacent to the triangle. The plan envisions some smallscale residence halls and, potentially, retail space. The idea is to carefully stitch this block into the fabric of surrounding area. It will serve as a connection between campus and downtown.

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THE LUMBER YARD

Facilities Management, the department that truly keeps the gears turning at Longwood, is currently hampered by space limitations on main campus. The Master Plan calls for Facilities Management to relocate their base of operations to the space that once housed the Lumber Yard, just behind Longwood Landings on Fourth Street. The move would revitalize a site that is currently underused, help Longwood to operate more efficiently and effectively, and free up space on central campus for other key projects.

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STREET IMPROVEMENTS

Griffin Boulevard Potential enhancements to Griffin Boulevard, in the interest of benefitting both the neighboring community and the Longwood student body might include improved sidewalks, the introduction of street trees and a bicycle lane on one or both sides of the street.

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Central Campus

Central Campus is Longwood’s main artery—a thoroughfare that connects the historic core of North Campus with Dorrill Dining Hall, Greenwood Library, and the academic departments and facilities to the south. Brock Commons, with its fountains and gathering places, bustles with life and activity between and after classes, and represents the heart of Longwood’s physical campus and its sense of community.

Among the projects already under construction are two new residence halls—Register and Sharp—which represent an ongoing commitment to students’ residential academic experience. Those halls will flank the quad in front of the ARC Residence Hall. The Student Success Center, to be built between Greenwood Library and Lankford Hall, is also already in the construction pipeline. It will house resources and academic support staff to ensure our students achieve at the highest level.

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CENTRAL CAMPUS

Design opportunities and recommendations include the following:

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Performing Arts Center & Willett Expansion The concept for this area is the development of a cluster of shared-use facilities and venues at the Redford entrance to campus—a focal point of public engagement opportunities including education, sports, entertainment, community and special events as well as parking— framing an enhanced Redford Entry, Iler Field, and Dorrill Dining Hall.

The special events venue in the form of an expanded and renovated Willett Hall (on the site of the tennis courts) will anchor Brock Commons to Redford and South Main Streets, and the use of topography change will allow for a campus entry from Brock Commons as well as a public entry from Redford Street. This new facility will provide 3,500 to 5,000 seats for community, entertainment, athletic and special events. It will also serve as a basketball venue for Longwood’s participation in the Big South Athletic Conference.

Directly across from this facility will be located a new 400-600 seat assembly and performing arts venue on the former Bristow Building site. The redevelopment of the site will allow for a highly visible facility on South Main Street and backdrop to a redesigned Iler Field. The project also envisions a parking garage of approximately 466 spaces, above ground floor retail or other publicly oriented amenities facing Venable and Main Streets.

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Residential hall additions and improvements will also be made in this area. New residence halls flanking the north and south ends of the ARC block will provide 224 beds as well as create a new quadrangle along Race Street. As iconic landmarks, the high-rise residence buildings, Curry & Frazer Halls, could undergo renovations, including new fenestration, brickwork, as well as the addition of traditional gabled roofs, and a new colonnaded lobby and public space incorporated into a new front door off Main Street.

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Quadrangle Improvements New and upgraded open spaces and streets are the other major initiatives of this central area. Three quads (Iler Field, Lankford/Stubbs Mall, and ARC) will see major redesign and re-programming. These spaces will be better connected by pedestrian upgrades to Madison and Redford Streets—widened sidewalks, tree planting, paved street crossings, bulb outs, and landscaped medians.

Brock Commons Upgrade A major opportunity will be the redesign and upgrade of Brock Commons, as the front door of many of the school’s shared use and academic buildings, buildings to be renovated, as well as potential infill structures.

This important, but now rather disjointed, collection of smaller scaled landscape installations will be redesigned as a more continuous, grand scaled mall with a consistent use of trees and landscaping, lighting and streetscape elements, with prominent sites for fountains and sculpture. The north side will transition into the more historic part of the Commons, while the south side will be terminated with a landscaped enclosure for a recently commissioned Joan of Arc sculpture.

New stairway connections and gathering spaces from the library and dining hall up to Brock Commons are proposed.

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Enhancement to Streets Finally, as the campus grows south, Pine Street would be upgraded as a landscaped street and pedestrian extension of the Brock Commons design. In early phases, it will terminate at an appropriately scaled rotary, bus stop, and open space linked to South Main Street via a new, relocated, and re-named, Wynne Drive (to be a continuation of "Edmunds Street"). This will initiate the re-organization of the southernmost portion of the campus. Race Street will become a “mixed use” pedestrian oriented street with new tree-lined sidewalks, curbside parking, lighting and signage. Spruce Street will become a “shared street,” re-landscaped and limited in access to service, delivery, special events and student move-in days. Both streets will function as important, secondary North-South pedestrian and bikeway routes.

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PERFORMING ARTS CENTER & WILLETT EXPANSION

Performing Arts Center

Every great university elevates the arts. One of the essential needs identified in the planning process is a mid-sized performing arts venueâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a quality space for performances that seats approximately 500 people. The plan envisions a performing arts center along South Main Street that will provide a signature home for the performing arts at Longwood as well as a community venue that will bring to campus alumni and visitors from across the region. The facility would also include a new parking garage.

Not yet designed, above is a comparably sized venue. (Surza Hall, CSO Architects)

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Aerial view of Performing Arts Center & Willett Hall in 2016

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Willett Hall Expansion & Renovation

Willett Hall, site of the 2016 U.S. Vice Presidential Debate, is the home court for Longwood’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. It also houses some of Longwood’s most popular academic programs, such as athletic training and therapeutic recreation.

Proposed Façade of Willett Hall

The first step to improving Willett will be construction of handsome new façade. Later, the Master Plan calls for an addition housing a versatile multipurpose center—a large gathering place for major, university-wide events, concerts and even large-scale alumni reunions as well as basketball games. This expansion will free up substantial additional space to help meet the requirements of these growing academic programs.

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CURRY & FRAZER RESIDENCE HALLS

While these two large residence halls are among the most recognizable features of Longwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus, they are not the most beloved. Curry and Frazer do, however, play an essential role in the life of Longwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residential college community. After careful consideration of space needs and options, the Master Plan envisions architectural interventions to give the buildings a more collegiate and welcoming feel. With additions such as a traditional pitched roof and an arcade at the lower level that faces Main Street, the buildings could be improved with a more elegant appearance that also bring much-needed cohesion to South Campus.

Aerial view of Curry and Frazer Residence Halls in 2016

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| CURRY & FRAZER RESIDENCE HALLS

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BROCK COMMONS EXTENDED

An overarching concept proposed by the Master Plan is to emulate the high quality of landscaping, hardscape and open space—and the quality of buildings framing that open space, found currently at the north end of Brock Commons, and extend it south to Hull Promenade. The axis will be terminated visually by the recently commissioned statue of Joan of Arc, and the exedra that sets the stage for it.

The Master Plan goes a step further and proposes a "South Brock Commons," that is somewhat more intimate in scale, from Hull Promenade all the way to the South Campus Precinct and terminated visually by a proposed new Field House serving the field sports and tennis complex there.

Proposed Master Plan improvements to Willett Hall and the Greenwood Library will help enhance the quality of this primary spine through central Brock Commons. While certain landscaping challenges exist at central Brock Commons—given it is above the parking garage—these can be overcome through the use of large planter boxes for larger and more mature trees, and raised beds for lawns and landscaping.

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Recommendations • Begin a larger scale framing of buildings with landscape and create a hippodrome-like space that extends all the way south to Hull Promenade.

• Provide a consistent palette of landscape and hardscape materials: paving, tree planting and lighting to lend continuity to this grand space.

• Central Brock Commons is envisioned to terminate just north of Hull Promenade with a hemicycle grove of trees or hedgerow as a backdrop for a sculpture of Joan of Arc commissioned specifically for this spot.

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LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS

Brock Commons Arguably the beating heart of Longwood, the central stretch of Brock Commons is improved by three moves: first, a consolidation and simplification of paving, site furnishings, and planting typologies; second, an addition of edge gardens and large canopy native trees in areas free of utility and structural load constraints, and lastly, through the introduction of a series of simple seat walls to maximize flexible seating and social interactions at this important crossroads.

Existing view of Brock Commons in Central Campus

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Bedford Hall Courtyard The introduction of large shade trees and perennial gardens along the edges of the space transform the Bedford Hall Courtyard into a pleasant year-round garden with dappled light and a lush stepped lawn amphitheater for performances.

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LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS

Brock Commons Terminus Brock Commons “necks-down” at the Hull Education Center and the Center for Communication Studies and Theater.

What is envisioned to the south of this “pinch-point” is a narrower, more intimate, extension of the axis of Brock Commons— developed in a manner very similar to Brock Commons in terms of treatment of walks, trees, and enhanced landscape palette.

Existing view of Brock Commons in South Campus

The southern portion of Brock Commons will terminate at a celebratory plaza and round-about at a re-aligned intersection of Wynne Drive and Pine Street. This will serve as a frontage piece to a new Field House serving the Athletic Precinct to the south, with a handsome façade facing to the north as a visual terminus and destination.

A clearly defined pedestrian walk will continue the link to the Moton Museum farther to the southern-most point of the “triangle.”

Throughout, the beautification and landscape enhancements to Brock Commons will ensure its consistency and unity as a public open space from High Street to the north, to the Athletic Fields to the south—the primary organizing element of campus.

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The southern extent of Brock Commons continues with the paving and planting strategies identified for Central and North Brock Commons. Adjacent to the Bedford Hall Arts Building, an existing sculpture plinth is expanded into a flexible plaza space with integrated seat walls, allowing for a close relationship between the public and the sculpture on display.

The plaza also increases connectivity across Brock Commons, provides programmable space for formal and informal gathering, and serves as a counterpoint to the new plaza at the High Street gateway at the Southern terminus of Brock Commons.

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Iler Field Already an iconic, versatile, and well-used Longwood space, framed by the curving faรงade of Dorrill Dining Hall, Iler Field is enhanced by the introduction of a series of stepped terraces that provide space along the western edge for outdoor dining, gathering, and informal seating. Pedestrian and bicycle pathways are also added to knit into the existing fabric of the campus, providing new ways to move through and occupy the space. As in other areas, large native canopy trees are proposed to create a comfortable, shaded gathering space.

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Lankford Mall Lankford Mall is already a highly used and popular space on campus, and is home to many student activities and gatherings. In the Master Plan, it is further enhanced with the introduction of an amphitheater formed by concentric, lawn-covered terraces, sufficiently broad enough in width to allow a variety of activities and uses to take place, while simultaneously negotiating the change in grade.

Lankford Plaza is reconfigured as a part, and in support, of the renovation of Lankford Hall, creating a flexible public space that can serve as a stage, entertainment area, and for outdoor dining.

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Existing view of Lankford Mall

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LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS

The Race Street Stormwater Pond The Race Street Stormwater Pond is expanded to the North and made more accessible through the introduction of a series of wooden boardwalks and a terraced amphitheater space. Side slopes and the edge of the pool are reduced and densely planted with native species, creating wildlife and pollinator habitat. Easier access to the water provides opportunities for students and faculty to monitor the quality of the water and the effectiveness of the pond, and for educational and informal uses by students and the public.

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LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS

Hull Promenade Hull Promenade can be improved by upgrading its paving, the introduction of large native canopy shade trees, replacing lawn edges with native perennial garden plants, and by adding rows of informal seating add to increase its usability for informal student gatherings.

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STREET IMPROVEMENTS

Race Street Race Street is transformed into a high performance street with enhanced pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and integrated stormwater treatment gardens. Large canopy trees provide shade for pedestrians and parked vehicles, and special paving is placed at key intersections and thresholds.

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WEST REDFORD GATEWAY

The West Redford Street entrance is used frequently by faculty, staff and visitors, but has received little previous attention. With the completion of the Student Success Center, which will sit above the entrance to the underground parking garage between Greenwood Library and Lankford Hall, there will be a new faรงade and opportunity to create an attractive and welcoming entrance to campus off of Griffin Boulevard. The Master Plan calls for landscape improvements and a more cohesive walking area that tie the West Redford entrance together with the rest of campus.

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South Campus

South Campus currently plays several key roles at Longwood: It is the first glimpse of campus for many visitors. It is a major location for parking, and also home to the baseball and softball fields.

The Master Plan aims to reimagine this vast space and connect it more strongly to the campus and community. Parking implications have been carefully considered, and a proposed new parking garage will be adequate for faculty, staff and student needs.

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The reconfiguration of streets, elimination of parking lots, and regrading and reshaping of the site for competition field sports, varsity tennis, and practice fields, are efforts of great importance. Pedestrian pathways, landscaped areas, tree planting, as well as new lighting and signage, will transform this area in look and feel into a large scale park-like setting. Lancer Field and adjacent practice field will terminate this open space at Moton Museum. The design for the South Main pedestrian/bike way with terraced landscaped seating and path connections down to the fields will transform this â&#x20AC;&#x153;back doorâ&#x20AC;? into a dramatically new front door for the University.

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Two future development sites will flank each side of Pine Street, extending the spine of Brock Commons south.

Future uses could include academic, residential, or athletics. It is envisioned that the south end of the Pine Street and Brock Commons view corridor will terminate in some type of fieldhouse structure, incorporating a vertical building element to terminate this important view.

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The development of a strong pedestrian link between the Moton Museum and the main campus. As the fields are developed they will include a pedestrian/bicycle path along the edges of the fields. The pathway will end at the southern-most field which were at one-time the athletic fields for the R. R. Moton High School. A connection will be provided to the museum near the eastern edge of that field.

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ATHLETIC FIELDS

The plan envisions returning Longwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soccer and lacrosse/field hockey fields from Johnston Drive to the South Campus areas. The idea is to make them more effective places of shared community by bringing the experience of playing and cheering for these teams back to South Campus.

In turn, the plan envisions moving the softball and baseball fields downtown along the High Bridge Trail, where they will be a comparatively close distance from the center of campus and also help drive the economic revitalization of downtown.

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SOUTH MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS

The plan lays out ideas for improving aesthetics and walkability along South Main Street. The existing sidewalk along South Main Street that runs behind the baseball and softball stadiums is unwelcoming, and fails to provide a strong pedestrian connection between campus and the Moton Museum. Connecting them will bring more visitors to Moton, and strengthen the connection between the museum and Longwood faculty, staff and students.

Existing view of South Main Street

In addition, comparing its sparseness to the tree-lined avenues of North Campus creates a sense of two different campuses. The Master Plan envisions working with the town to develop a tree-lined verge with a bicycle lane and well-lit walkways, bringing that collegiate feeling up the hill from historic downtown, promoting development and improving safety.

Proposed improvements to South Main Street

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Three dimensional aerial view (from the east) of South Campus improvements

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Along the Trail

Longwood aspires to be an open campus where visitors and community residents frequently come to campus with families to explore, take in the performing arts, watch a game or take part in countless other activities. It also wants students to migrate easily and readily into Farmville and contribute to the vibrancy of a great college town. One of the main goals of the Master Plan is the creation of seams that join, rather than divide, Longwood and Farmville â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to create spaces that facilitate their progress together.

From minor changes like providing clearer pathways into campus and streetscape improvements, to major projects like moving the baseball and softball stadiums along the High Bridge Trail in the heart of town, the plan envisions Longwood and Farmville working together to reach their shared potential as one of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s truly great college towns.

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Existing view of Downtown Farmville

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Longwood baseball and softball stadiums relocated to Downtown on the High Bridge Trail

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BASEBALL & SOFTBALL STADIUMS

The opening of Camden Yards in Baltimore in 1992 ushered in a new era of baseball stadiums— deeply authentic gathering spaces that bring families together to celebrate the traditions of America’s national pastime. Since the spectacular success of Camden Yards, most new ballparks have been integrated into town—and cityscapes—

rather than plopped down in suburban outskirts.

From Major League cities like Pittsburgh and San Francisco, to minor league communities like Durham, urban ballparks have galvanized downtown revitalization and economic development, not to mention community identity.

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Proposed Master Plan improvements to "Along the Trail"

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The Master Plan envisions a baseball stadium downtown between Third Street and the Appomattox River, along the High Bridge Trail, and a smaller softball field nearby but also along the trail. This unique setting could be immensely appealing to a minor league baseball team, whose summer schedule would complement Longwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the spring. Unlike other sports, baseball teams play as many as six or seven games per week, so the stadium would be in regular and consistent use, attracting visitors who would also shop and eat downtown.

View of High Bridge Trail

Artist rendering of an aerial view of the proposed new baseball stadium on the former Buffalo Shook property

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TRIBUTARY STREETS TO "ALONG THE TRAIL" DEVELOPMENT

The master plan calls for working with the town and local property owners collaboratively on streetscape improvements to the residential and commercial neighborhoods downtown. That includes, where possible, tree-lined streets with well-lit walkways that lead directly to campus. Creating that sense of place in town will further promote connectivity and integration. It also improves safety: streets that are not just well-lit but vital with pedestrian traffic are inherently safer.

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In many great neighborhoods surrounding campuses, there is a feeling of place that emerges simply in walking the streets. Neighborhoods like Rivermont in Lynchburg and those surrounding U.Va. in Charlottesville feel almost like an extension of campus. There is opportunity to create that same feeling in Farmville.

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Existing conditions

Examples of pedestrian-friendly streetscapes

Main Street looking north

College Avenue St. John's College Annapolis

Buffalo Street looking north-west

Main Street, Farmville, Virginia

Randolph Street looking north

Floyd Avenue, Virginia Commonwealth University

St. George Street looking north

W Duke of Gloucester Street, College of William and Mary

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Along the Trail

Three dimensional aerial view looking south at Along the Trail development

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Lancer Park

Lancer Park, home to more than 700 students, has a vast untapped potential as an important link to the Appomattox River. The Master Plan envisions various landscaping improvements to the housing complex with several walkways and recreation opportunities developed along the river. It also seeks to expand existing research facilities that will help strengthen Longwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s academic and research programming in environmental sciences.

Aerial view of Lancer Park, 2016

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Proposed Master Plan improvements to Lancer Park

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Lancer Park

LANCER PARK COMMONS

To further establish Lancer Park as an actual park, a redundant portion of roadway is converted into a large tree lined looping path and lawn space for informal recreation and gathering.

Proposed Master Plan improvements to Lancer Park: Lancer Park Commons

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Johnston Drive

The Master Plan was asked to examine potential alternative uses for the area east of central campus that includes Longwood House, playing fields and the golf course. Whatever decisions the University ultimately makes about these facilities, there are a number of possibilities for creating attractive spaces that nurture both the community and the educational mission of the University. One possibility includes an arboretum, gardens, woodland trails and spaces that can serve as retreats for students and professionals engaged in research, writing, study and reflection. Regardless, this part of campus will continue to serve as a resource for not just Longwood, but for the greater community, as well.

Existing athletic field at Johnston Drive

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Longwood House

Proposed conceptual development of Johnston Drive property

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Proposed natural landscape

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The Illustrative Master Plan This master plan illustrates the physical results of the programmatic, design, and community outreach goals and aspirations of the University—a cohesive campus accomplishing multiple goals: 1

Maximizing the Energy of the Campus

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Contributing to the Revitalization of Farmville

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Improving the Visual Identity of the Campus

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Enhancing Connections between the Moton Museum, Longwood and Farmville

Growth has been accommodated, and in most cases, coordinated with existing uses. New uses, particularly those of a “shared use” role with the community, dramatically improve Longwood’s physical connections and become a driver of local and regional economic and cultural development. Major open spaces, whether existing or new, have been defined or reinforced by new tree plantings and landscape, framing a view, interconnecting spaces, and by placing new buildings in a manner that encloses or defines an open space.

Three dimensional aerial view looking south-east at Main Triangle

Circulation systems have been refined, extended, and, in the case of the South Campus Precinct, rationalized. Some street alignments have been modified to simplify movement, provide greater clarity of organization, improve access to parking and provide new, attractive gateways to campus.

Increasing the number of beds on campus will enhance student life in multiple ways. Several residential projects (with up to 400-500 beds)

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The Illustrative Master Plan

include the activation of the Venable Triangle area, additions to ARC Hall and potential expansion in later phases as Brock Commons expands southward. Private residential development provides additional housing resources with stronger links to the campus.

These moves will bring the on-campus residential population up to approximately 60% of the 6,000 target student population.

Major initiatives in the construction of a new Upchurch University Center, medium-size assembly and performance venue, larger special events venue, and Vision 2020 projects will greatly enhance student life at the heart of the main campus. A major reorganization of the south end of campus provides a greatly improved setting for competitive athletics venues and student recreation.

The Master Plan incorporates campus wide recommendations for open space, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, parking, and architectural context.

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Capital Projects and Phasing The University Master Plan establishes the long term vision for the physical development of the Longwood University campus to support enrollment growth and new programs. To accomplish this development, Longwood has compiled a capital construction plan that adheres to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s capital planning process.

Under this process, each state agency must develop and regularly update a plan that identifies the institution’s desired construction projects, priorities, and schedule. Longwood will maintain its current capital plan as a supporting document to this Master Plan.

The recommendation for Longwood’s capital construction program is divided into phases over the Master Plan’s horizon. Each phase includes specific projects that were identified in the Master Plan, along with projects remaining from the previous Master Plan, Vision 2020.

Near Term • • • • •

Construct North Campus Residence Hall Construct New Physical Plant Building Expand and Renovate Willett Hall Construct Performing Arts Center Renovate Old Heating Plant

Mid-Term • • • • •

Construct East Madison Street Parking Garage Renovate Lankford Hall Renovate South Tabb Hall Renovate Greenwood Library Renovate Wygal Hall

Long Term • Renovate Coyner Hall • Construct Campus-wide Stormwater Control System When the Opportunity is Presented • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Construct Athletic Facilities Construct South Campus Parking Garage Construct South Campus Residence Hall Construct Johnston Drive facilities Renovate or replace Curry and Frazer Residence Halls Renovate ARC Residence Hall Renovate South Ruffner Residence Hall Renovate Barlow Hall Renovate or replace Graham Hall Renovate Tabb Hall Renovate and/or expand Health and Fitness Center Renovate or replace components of the campus steam distribution system Improve Campus-wide Building Efficiency Construct STEMH facility(ies) Construct Child Development Center Construct South Campus Chilled Water Plant Construct Additional Venable Triangle Buildings

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New Residence Hall 2016

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Other Planning Considerations OPPORTUNITY SITES

QUICK WINS

Site specific development and restoration/re-use projects are identified in the Vision 2020, Capital Projects and this 2015 Master Plan. Fixed or more flexible uses may be prescribed to sites in the near term and longer term (to 2025). Opportunities may include buildings, new open spaces, parking, or community shared-use facilities. Placemaking strategies and improvements recommended in the 2015 Master Plan are applicable to sites posed for long term development in the 2025 and 2039 Master Plans.

Projects that are made early on, and are quickly achievable and discrete, can make immediate visual and physical improvements, particularly in places slated for Phase One Master Plan development.

These efforts can be piggy-backed onto construction and infrastructure projects currently underway or about to start.

Their presence on the campus can signal what is the intent, nature and character of the future Master Plan projects.

The Master Plan illustrated in this document does not rely on property which the University does not own. The plan recommendations pertain only to properties currently owned by Longwood University or the Longwood Real Estate Foundation. The only exceptions to this are Public-Private and Public-Public Partnerships.

These early action items could include certain design recommendations made by the Master Plan: 1.

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The Lawn Walk on High Street The Brock Commons Gateway to Campus Jarman, Lancaster, or Tabb Hall Gardens Reconfiguration of Beale Plaza, Fountain, and Colonnade Tree planting along Wheeler Mall and Old Brock Commons Sidewalk, streetscape and landscape improvements to Madison and Redford Streets 7. Streetscape and landscape improvements to Spruce Street 8. Wayfinding and gateway signage from Route 460 to Campus

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HULL SPRINGS FARM

Hull Springs Farm, a 662 acre property in Westmoreland County, is used as a resource for faculty from across the University. The natural landscape, wildlife and flora, particularly the wetlands, are all valuable research subjects.” The current “North Point,” where the Big House is located, will continue to be a pastoral setting, treated as an island at the end of the road, with space for gatherings along the picturesque river bank. Envisioned is an Environmental Education Center to the south of the North Point to be used as a model for building and site sustainability and a teaching destination.

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Acknowledgements AFTERWORD

The “Place Matters” journey began during the fall of 2013 when the University’s leadership team set the stage and chose to step forward. Longwood’s Board of Visitors blessed the effort and commissioned a stalwart band of explorers for this expedition of discovery and innovation. As the band followed the winding trail and peered into even the most isolated and sacred chambers of our beloved institution, they were joined by an ever changing and diverse multitude of devotees, skeptics and the simply curious.

• Mr. Reed “Jerry” Jerome, Facilities Planner, has been a steadfast leader and contributor throughout the effort. His attention to detail and logical thinking have been critical to the success of this master plan.

The successful conception of the foresight of “Place Matters” would have been impossible without the participation and support of the individuals whose names are memorialized here. The gentle guiding hand and wisdom of President W. Taylor Reveley, IV was instrumental in setting the direction for this voyage of discovery and molding features within its ultimate vista.

• Ms. Melissa Pelletier, Assistant to the Vice President, unselfishly donated her time and applied her exceptional knowledge of the English language.

A display of the complete roster of those who cared deeply enough to share their memories, concerns and ideas is beyond the limits of this modest volume. Never the less, there is a handful of individuals whose contributions are worthy of additional note.

Our warmest regard and thanks goes to the representatives of the citizens of Farmville who gave their time and guidance: Mayor David Whitus, Vice Mayor Armistead Reid and Town Manager Gerald Spates.

Each of these individuals shared their valuable thoughts, concerns and ideas based upon their own unique set of experiences and perspectives.

Throughout time, journeys of discovery have been made possible by those who planned and managed the logistics. This endeavor is no different and has depended upon a dedicated core team.

• Mr. Thomas Frisbie-Fulton, University Architect, contributed his own unique blend of creativity and devotion to the built form of the learning environment.

We all owe our deepest thanks to these individuals for their efforts. This trustworthy and talented team is singularly responsible for the successful completion of this endeavor.

Personally, I am grateful to all who have contributed to the development of this master plan. I have been honored in being given the privilege to lead two university master planning efforts during my tenure at Longwood. I give my thanks to both the President and the Board of Visitors for this opportunity.

In closing, I would like to leave a challenge for both.

The true success of a master plan lies in its execution. There is an old adage, “Plan the Work and Work the Plan.” I ask that each of you lend your continued support to the efforts to bring this vision to reality. Please do not use the plan as a bible, but rather use it to chart your way as you would a clock, sextant and compass. Survey and understand the terrain across which you march and, as you move into a bright future, remember and learn from the past.

Your dedicated servant, Richard W. Bratcher, Vice President (retired) Facilities Management and Real Property

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LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF VISITORS

LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY STEERING COMMITTEE

LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY MASTER PLAN WORKING GROUP

Ms. Colleen McCrink Margiloff, Rector

W. Taylor Reveley, IV, President

Ms. Lori Blackwood, Space and Real Property Manager

Ms. Eileen M. Anderson

Mr. Justin Pope, Chief of Staff

Ms. Katherine Elam Busser

Mr. Troy Austin, Director of Athletics

Mr. Richard Bratcher, Vice President Facilities Management and Real Property

Mr. Michael A. Evans

Mr. Richard W. Bratcher, Vice President Facilities Management and Real Property

Mr. Thomas Frisbie-Fulton, University Architect

Mr. Kenneth Copeland, Vice President Administration and Finance

Ms. Rachael Talent Ivers, Director Longwood Center for the Visual Arts

Mr. Joe Gills, President, Student Government Association

Mr. Jerry Jerome, Facilities Planner

Mr. David H. Hallock, Jr. Mr. Eric Hansen Mr. Stephen Mobley Ms. Marianne M. Radcliff Mr. Brad E. Schwartz

Ms. Courtney Hodges, Vice President Commonwealth Relations

Mr. David Love, Director Landscape and Grounds Management Department Ms. Susan Osborne, University Budget Director

Ms. Lucia Anna Trigiani

Ms. Victoria Kindon, Vice President Strategic Operations

Ms. Shelby Jones Walker, Secretary Mr. Lacy Ward, Jr. The Hon. Robert S. Wertz, Vice Rector

Dr. Joanna Morrison, Faculty Senate Representative Dr. Ken Perkins, Vice President Academic Affairs Dr. Tim Pierson, Vice President Student Affairs

Mr. David Pletcher, Director Campus Design and Construction Department Ms. Angela Stimpson, Director Facilities Administrative Services Department Ms. Louise Waller, Executive Director Campus Planning, Construction and Real Estate Foundation

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COOPER ROBERTSON MASTER PLANNERS John Kirk, Partner-in-Charge Brian Shea, Senior Designer Mike Aziz, Senior Project Manager Mathew Propst, Project Manager & Designer Alfia White, Project Designer Margarita Yong, Graphic Designer

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