Campus Planning Committee

CAMPUS PLANNING COMMITTEE
October 17, 2008
2:30- 4:00 PM
225 ILR Conference Room

Attending: Barbara Knuth, Mina Amundsen, Mary-Lynn Cummings, Gilbert Delgado, Dean Koyanagi, Stephan Schmidt, Phil Cox, Ken Downing, Peter Trowbridge, Lauren Wein, Daniel Budish, Steve Erber, Randy Wayne, John Gutenberger, David Cutter, Dennis Osika, Dennis Stein

Co-chairs Barbara Knuth and Stephan Schmidt opened the meeting and introductions were made around the table.

Climate Action Plan — Dean Koyanagi Dean provided a detailed Powerpoint presentation that explained the Climate Action Plan (CAP). Approximately one and a half years ago President Skorton’s called for the development of a campus plan for Climate Neutrality by September 2009, as part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACU PCC).

Comments/Discussion: Barb asked how members could have an active role in the CAP and Dean said that as the project progresses the CAP team will approach the CPC for their input.

Peter Trowbridge asked how information about the CAP will be disbursed to the community to and what actions will be taken to make the process transparent. Dean noted that through the Presidents Climate Commitment Implementation Committee (PCCIC), the Sustainability website and outreach efforts through the Presidents Office, the community will be updated regularly and encouraged to participate in the process.

Lauren Wein asked if there was any participation from the student body and Dean said that they have been working with Mike Walsh.

Ken Downing asked if there were any policies being made in regard to the use of natural Gas vehicles. Dean responded that it is being considered and we have the advantage on campus that fueling options are already in place.

John Gutenberger questioned the wedge for air transportation and did this mean we would we be recommending less air travel. For plane travel, the number of flights will most likely not change, but they will consider offsets that would balance the fuel consumption and improved technologies aimed at creating more efficient travel.

Dean noted that on October 22, 2008 there will be an open house at Weill Hall. From 10:00am to 2:00 pm there will be an Ideas Exchange in the Atrium that covers the year-long development of the Cornell Climate Action Plan. Participants will be encouraged to share their ideas through an onsite idea exchange website. http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/cap/climateactionplan.cfm

Mina Amundsen announced that from 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM there will be a webcast in Room 226 of Weill Hall. “Getting to Zero” that will be sponsored by The President’s Climate Commitment Implementation Committee. For webcast detail, go to: http://www.nytimesknownow.com/professional-development/education/campus-sust ainability-day-FL08.html

Also, committee members were encouraged to download the “Getting to Zero” poster at: http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/cap/docs/ZEROpstrV7.pdf If anyone has questions or would like to volunteer for “Getting to Zero”? Email sustainability@cornell.edu

ILR Courtyard Design — David Cutter David provided a presentation and update on the ILR courtyard concept design that is currently under consideration. The project has entered the schematic design phase in which concepts for the lower courtyard are being developed by SCAPE, a landscape architecture firm out of NYC. David explained the current concept of the courtyard.

Comments/Discussion: Mary-Lynn Cummings asked about the composition of the path surfaces, it appeared in the drawings that trees were growing out of the pavement. David explained that SCAPE has proposed the use of permeable pavements and the incorporation of trees close to the edge of pathways as well as within the pathway.

Peter commented that it may be a code requirement to install canopies over the entrances to the building and it may also be a solution to identifying hard to find obscure doorways. David said that we could check on the codes and make that suggestion to the consultants. He also commented that the conceptual design reflected a plaza design with its broad walkways, more than 40% of the space is paved in this proposal . David explained that the large amount of pavement was being proposed to accommodate the desire to use the space for events, seating and reduced maintenance.

Barb suggested using an anchoring system that could be placed in the lawn as a means of reducing the paved surface around or under the tents.

Peter questioned the sustainability of the space, citing a reduction of heat absorbed and the materials that would have to be trucked for the paved surfaces. David noted that they were considering permeable materials that would hopefully offset the energy consumption.

Dennis Stein reminded the committee that the courtyard has a unique micro climate that should be recognized and that the consultants should be aware of this as they select plant materials. David agreed and offered to pass that information on.

Planning & Project Development Updates — Gilbert Delgado

Gilbert presented three campus design projects that are currently being overseen by the Planning and Project Development Office.

Plantations Welcome Center — The design work for this project is being prepared by Bard, Neurt & Sampson out of Canada. The Cornel Architectural Advisory Committee (AAC) has applauded the design for being “well rooted in its context”. This “green”, terraced building will provide a giftshop/reception area, classrooms, office spaces, and will feature unique wood louvered exterior treatment.

Humanities Building Addition — Designed by Koeter of Boston, the addition will provide 35,000 sf of new construction that will provide needed programmatic space. The design takes a “Europeancentric” approach to tying new and old paces together in a manner that will “celebrate” the design of the Goldwin Smith apse rather than hide it and will result in the creation of a glassed atrium which will provide a covered & protected gathering space for wintertime use.

Hotel School Fly-Space Addition — To provide additional office space, KKS Architects of Philadelphia are designing an addition to the Hotel School in the former fly-space located on the east side of the building. The glass exterior treatment will wrap around the building transforming what is currently a solid stone wall into an open airy lobby and office area.

Comments/Discussion Ken recommended that we begin to anticipate the installation of cell antennas at each of new locations, there appears to be a trend of installing the antennas to increase phone and internet connections in any areas where public space is present.

Stephan Schmidt asked how the large expanses of glass would be treated for energy conservation measures. Gilbert explained that shading systems coupled with air exchange units would be considered so that cool and warm air would be moved from the top of the building down.

Daniel Budish questioned why the University was allowing the infill of so many contemporary facades next to the older historic structures, he felt that we were potentially adding too many flat surfaces in areas where the architecture has a great deal of relief and detail. Gilbert explained that the Secretary of Interior Standards for Historic Preservation recommend the use of contemporary design for additions that often introduces transparent surfaces that allow you to see the older design and materials while creating new and complimentary spaces.

Peter questioned the cost per square foot of the space being created citing that it is very high cost and Mina explained that due to the location of the building, and considerations of historic context, density, and the difficulty of construction in the older parts of central campus, the costs are always higher.

Gutie asked about a previous proposal to locate the Plantations Welcome Center out on Rte 366. Barbara and Mina both said that there had been one in the last Plantations Master Plan, with the current site proposed for a Conservatory but the costs exceeded the proposed budget and the Welcome Center was moved to the current location.

Campus Master Plan (CMP) Implementation — Mina Amundsen

Mina provided an update of the Campus Master Plan Implementation process. At this time a group is working with Steve Golding, the Interim VP for Planning and Budget, the VP FS and the Provost’s Office to formulate a structure for implementation that will allow capital, planning and enabling projects to be reviewed, scheduled and assigned for development. Each of the individuals working on this are providing the steps they require for project initiation through implementation and Mina is working with Mary-Lynn Cummings and Tom Cole to combine them all into a functional model.

Comments/Discussion

Barbara asked what the implications would be for the CPC, how they would maintain a level of involvement. Mina indicated that the CPC, just as the AAC would have an advisory role within the implementation structure.

Mary-Lynn noted the need to include or capture enabling projects within the process as well. At this point, these projects do not have funding from any defined source and there will be a need to define the priority or the enabling projects, determine the stewards or champions of the project and coordinate or attach the projects to larger capital projects as they are being planned. There should be stronger influence upon what is included in the project starting from the initial idea through to the final construction of the facility.

Phil Cox commented that we should have a solid definition of what the implementation process is for the Project managers; this will reduce confusion at the planning and design level.

Dennis Osika noted that gateway projects are enabling projects and what level priority was established for their implementation. Mina added that streetscapes and the public realm will also have to be considered and gateways are considered as part of both and should be University projects.

Barbara and Peter suggested that the Sustainable Sites Initiative for landscapes be considered. Barbara asked the group if there was interest in learning more about the program and asked Mina to have her group investigate the certification process and provide the committee with a potential listing of pilot projects, she will add it to the next CPC meeting. Peter said that on November 10th a draft will be available on line and that there are currently a number of campuses in NYS that are already looking at the landscape as well as the buildings in regard to LEED certification.

Phil agreed that consideration of LEED for the landscape would be beneficial because landscape as it is proposed in the Advancing Sustainability Action Plan (ASAP) suggests that landscape naturalization is used as a balance in working with our carbon footprint. Stephan was skeptical about the LEED criteria that they would be using and Peter further explained the levels of criteria and importance of placing added value to the landscape.

Other Updates

Mina announced that the final version of the Campus Master Plan was available and asked the committee if they preferred CD’s or paper copies of the plan. She took a head count of 3 people wanting CD’s and 8 wanting paper working copies. The others not in attendance will be polled via e-mail.

Mary-Lynn requested that the presentations from today’s meeting be posted on the CPC website.