U-M’s new master plan to make North Campus more vibrant

Incoming freshman at the University of Michigan dread hearing two words more than any when receiving their housing assignment: North Campus. 

Cognizant that North Campus has been long reviled as the bland suburban antithesis of Central Campus’ vibrant city core, leaders at the university are working to change that.

 

Today the campus is dominated by spread-out buildings and surface parking lots. But the university’s Board of Regents recently reviewed a revised master plan for North Campus that calls for making it denser, more walkable and more vibrant overall. 

 

The university will direct infill development in the core of North Campus, creating greater density and a more pedestrian friendly environment while preserving the green space the area is also known for. It is also looking to add gathering spaces, more space for retail, eateries and cafes.

 

All told, the master plan calls for an additional 10 million square feet of building space. It’s an ambitious goal given that it has taken 50 years to build the 7 million square feet that is currently on North Campus.

 

There is also the potential for minor realignment of roads to improve transportation and to accommodate a possible high capacity mass transit corridor from Central Campus to North Campus. The plan also calls for creating stronger connections between the two campuses

 

A collection of faculty, staff and students participated in the process of revising the master plan. Sasaki Associates facilitated the work.

 

Source: University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke