When the University of North Carolina hired ASG to develop its master plan, the focus was on the central campus and its ability to support 3,000 to 5,000 additional students by 2008. In addition, spaces for patient care and research at the UNC hospitals and health affairs facilities required sensitive growth options.

What's more, as the campus sprawled south at the end of the last century, it has less coherent building strategies and ignored many of the characteristics of the hallowed North Campus.

The new plan repaired the sprawl while establishing a network of open spaces and building sites to mend the campus and prepare for the future.

During more than 500 meetings with stakeholders, the plan considered:

• Density of development: ASG looked at the appropriate balance of new buildings on campus versus development of off-campus parcels, including the amount the campus can accommodate without negative impact on programs.
• Future building sites: Locations of future buildings/additions were determined in conjunction with the placement of open spaces.
• Transportation, parking, and pedestrian circulation: The demand for transportation was determined by pairing campus density information with relevant options for roads, service roads, bus service, bike paths, and future regional transit. Meanwhile, new pedestrian walkways were suggested to provide easy travel across campus, clear access to buildings, and limited interaction with vehicles.

ASG also provided design standards for the buildings and grounds.

As the plan was completed, it helped the University and the state pass a $3 billion bond bill for higher education construction statewide. Now, the plan guides $1.4 billion-worth of projects on the main campus, and ASG provided design review for all ongoing initiatives.

Completion: 2001
Size: 720 acres

Click here to read about UNC's new Rams Head student center in ASG's Creating Intellectual Communities magazine .