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One more step in the Campus Master Plan Clark Enersen Partners, the architects overseeing the Minot State University campus master plan, were on campus Nov. 7 for a series of open forums to present their recommendations for the landscape design. JoAnne Kissel, principal architect, and Dennis Scheer, landscape architect, unveiled much more detail in the plan since their last visit in late summer. Those attending saw a plan that truly supports MSU's strategic plan, Vision 2013. In addition to creating a distinctive, beautifully aesthetic campus, many of the features being proposed support the university's strategy to relate to its place. In particular, many design features reflect the creation of the area by glaciers. Examples include pavement patterns that suggest ice drag or ice scour and the shape of receding glacial lakes. Natural land features that could be incorporated include coulees, gently rolling contours and prairie potholes. Many of these elements can be designed as learning opportunities. Scheer also proposed trees and plants that are native and representative species to more naturally tie the grounds and buildings together. He said, most importantly, the design will give pedestrians and people driving by a better look at the campus, particularly the architecture of Old Main. Scheer said the landscape architecture plan should be able to both provide room for shade trees and a more open look to the campus. 
The streetscape prepared in support of opening 11th Avenue Northwest contained features designed to calm traffic and make the street pedestrian friendly. Highlights included narrowed driving lanes, entry gates, parking along both sides and cross walks. Other possibilities include stop signs and the use of a surface other than asphalt to force drivers slow down and yield for pedestrians. Opening the avenue and removing the plaza also eases the concern about traffic in the turnarounds that currently exist. The plan also increases green space and contains more plazas, seating areas and gathering places for campus personnel, students and visitors throughout the campus. Kissel said that the project plan will be submitted to the university by the end of the year. | |||||||||||||
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