Dickinson Master Plan Landscape Framework Excerpt

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Dickinson College Campus Master Plan

Draft Final April 2008

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1. DICKINSON VALUES.....................................................................1

Campus History, College and Borough Dickinson Dispositions Master Plan Goals and Objectives

2. CAMPUS FRAMEWORK PLANS – EXISTING................................. 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Campus Context Environment: Hydrology, Solar and Wind Development: Zones, Building Age and Uses Landscape: Types, Character, Open Space Usage and Vegetation Circulation: Street Types and Character, Entries, Service, Parking and Accessibility Utilities: Campus System, Electrical, Gas and Oil Steering Committee Summary

3. MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS........................................29

PREFACE.......................................................................i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................................E1 To be added in Final Document Goals, Issues, The Plan, Phasing

Master Plan Concept Development and Landscape Frameworks Illustrative Plan Summary by Area Historic Campus The Expanded Core Area Athletics and West Campus Residential Life High Street and the High I Initiative Potential Master Plan Phasing Opportunities for Sustainability

4. GUIDELINES..............................................................................47

Implementation Parameters Key Design Guidelines

APPENDIX........................................................................................A1

Potential Facility Studies Existing Facility Summaries - In Progress Academic Inventory Residential Evaluation Athletics Summary Parking Facilities Landscape Assessment - Materials and Furnishings Inventory



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Campus Framework Plans



Campus Framework Plans Campus framework plans are used to examine one aspect of the campus at a time. This dis-aggregation of systems reveals inconsistencies and deficiencies in each, and enables rational expansion to accommodate future needs. For example, separate analysis of pedestrian circulation, service access and general vehicular circulation reveals existing and potential conflicts, and enables design of intrinsically safe systems. The analyses that follow begin with the regional context of the College before examining particulars of the campus.

The Framework Plans provide an evaluation of the campus environment and facilities.

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The Campus and Context

W North St

W Louther St

W High St

5 Minute Walk 1/4 Mile

Mooreland St

Belvedere St

W Pomfret St

10 Minute Walk 1/2 Mile

15 Minute Walk 3/4 Mile The majority of the campus facilities are within a short walking distance from the HUB though parts of the campus feel disconnected.

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W South St

N Hanover St

N Pitt St

N West St

N College St

Franklin St

The regional context is particularly relevant to landscape design: to the characteristics of soil and climate and the consequences for hydrology and vegetation.

Cherry St

Cedar St

Located centrally in the Borough of Carlisle, Dickinson College has many services and much housing within walking distance. However, this urban setting limits opportunities to enlarge the campus, so that most additions to facilities must be achieved through infill or replacement.

N Orange St

Campus Walking Distances


Regional Context - Cumberland Valley, The Campus, Forest Station and Farm

The Great Valley The borough of Carlisle lies within the Great Valley (Cumberland Valley) section of the Ridge & Valley Province. More specifically, it is found in the Northern Limestone and Dolomite Valley ecoregion within this larger physiographic province. The area has a geology, physiography, soils, climate, and vegetation distinctive to this location. These natural systems together with the culture that has developed over time, creates a place unique to Carlisle, and to Dickinson College. Understanding these relationships will help orient the campus to the surrounding community and to larger ecosystem processes.

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dickinson college

Regional Context

Carlisle lies to the west of the intersection of Interstates 81 & 76

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The Great Valley

1 Piedmont

Blue Ridge

Ridge & Valley

Carlisle & Dickinson College

The borough of Carlisle lies within the Great Valley (Cumberland Valley) section of the Ridge & Valley Province. More specifically, it is found in the Northern Limestone/Dolomite Valley ecoregion within the larger province biome. This area has characterisitic geology, physiography, soils, climate, and vegetation that are distinctive to this location. These natural systems together with the culture that has developed overtime, creates a place that is endemic to Carlisle and to Dickinson College. Understanding these relationships will help us tailor the campus environs to the immediate community and also to the larger ecosystem processes.

Geology & Physiography •

Underlying the Great Valley are largely sedimentary rocks. Sandstone, shale, limestone, and dolomite are the predominant rock types. Mountain building forces folded and faulted the rock when the Appalachians were formed creating charateristic ridges and valleys. This area of limestone-dolomite rock forms broad undulating hills which are susceptible to development of sinkholes, underground streams, and other kasrst features. As a result of the karstic geology, surface drainage can directly pass into groundwater systems creating a high potential for groundwater contamination.

http://maps.live.com/PrintableMap.aspx?mkt=en-US&a=true • Harrisburg

Sus quahann a River •

The Piedmont Cumberland Blue Valley Ridge

Ridge & Valley

The Great Valley The Appalachian Flyway- a major bird migration corridor- follows the northern edge of the Great Valley, along the Kittanny Ridge of the Blue Mountain. The Appalachian Flyway is a criticalsinkhole part of the sandstone Eastern Flyway, with over 150 shale species of migrating birds. Since this granite region is also one of the largest contiguouslimestone blocks of forest remaining in SE Pennsylvania it is a critical bird feeding and nesting area. This very large, contiguous forest has distinctive characteristics not easily replicated in suburban and urban environments.

Occasionally, a harder rock type that is more resistant to erosion will form hills and become exposed. Morgan rocks on the Campus are an example of thiss physiographic feature.

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Geology & Physiography » Underlying the Great Valley are largely sedimentary rocks - sandstone, shale, limestone and dolomite. » Mountain building forces folded and faulted the rock when the Appalachians were formed creating the characteristic ridges and valleys. » The limestone and dolomite rocks form broad undulating hills. Because these rocks are soluble in acidic water, 9/10/2007 they can form sinkholes, underground streams, and other karst features. » As a result of the karstic geology, surface drainage can directly pass into groundwater systems creating a high potential for groundwater contamination. » Occasionally, a harder rock type that is more resistant to erosion will form higher hills such as the Morgan rocks on the Campus.

Hydrology » This area contains some of the highest volume springs in the state. » Spring fed streams tend to have gentle gradients and flow LeTort Spring Run, plentifully year round. » As underground streams Internationally recognized trout stream and other karst features are common, much of the drainage is sub-surface. Surface drainage can pass directly into groundwater systems, creating a high potential for groundwater contamination. » Stormwater in this area needs to be managed carefully to avoid accelerating sinkhole development. Vegetation » The general regional forest type is Appalachian mix Oak community (Kuchler 1964). » Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), along with Appalachian Oak Forest, a mixture of white pine Reminants left on steep mountain (Pinus strobus), beech slopes (Fagus grandifolia), and other hardwoods also occurred locally. (Brenner, 1985, p.13). Soils » Soils are deep and well drained, formed in situ from nearly pure limestone. » Hagerstown soils are common locally, very productive and well suited to agriculture.

The Campus and Farm

1

The Carlisle Campus

2

Reineman Wildlife Sanctuary & Field Lab

3

The Farm

HaA

Hagerstown Silt Loam 0 - 3%

HaB

Hagerstown Silt Loam 3 - 8%

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Ub

Urban Land

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campus limited perm of compacti mowing ope use.

Campus Environment Hydrology Although the campus is fairly flat, storm water drains predictably towards a low point near the convergence of Louther Street and Cherry Street. This is one of four drainage basins upon which the campus is located. Landscape design must necessarily work with these natural inclines, intercepting, detaining, treating and piping water as appropriate. Rainwater is a resource like any other on campus, to be used and re-used to sustain campus vegetation and for other purposes. Precipitation and subsequent disposal of snow and storm runoff are important determinants of microclimates throughout the campus. Their management to optimize climate within each habitable place on campus is a challenge of the landscape architect. Understanding the hydrology, together with the behavior of underlying soils, is where answering that challenge begins.

Localized Drainage Issues •

Hydrology and Storm Water Drainage sub basins Direction of surface flows

Localized drainage issues

1”= 400’ •

Drainage sub basins Direction of surface flows Localized drainage issues

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1”= 400’

Subsheds

Localized Issues

Pervious & Impervious Surfaces

• Based on available topographic data, the Campus can be divided into four mini watersheds or drainage sub-basins. • Collection and surface flow within these sub-basins are managed by the existing storm sewer systems. In many cases, structures and landscape elements added later have altered the existing drainage patterns and resulted in localized flooding.

• Numerous visits to the campus supplemented by interviews with Facilities Department have highlighted various areas with severe drainage issues. These areas are indicated on the map. • These areas represent future opportunities to demonstrate creative and sustainable ways of dealing with stormwater. • The intersection at Cherry and W. Louther has drainage issues that can be converted into an opportunity by locating a sustainable Stormwater demonstration site.

• 55% of Dickinson’s campus is covered with impervious surfaces. • 45% of the Campus area has “soft” land cover types with varying degrees of permeability. • Lawn is a dominant ground cover with very limited permeability. Lawn generally has a runoff coefficient between 80%-90% approaching hard surfaces as a result of compaction from mowing operations and active use.

Numerous v campus sup interviews w Department various area drainage iss have been in map. These areas future oppo demonstrat sustainable with stormw The intersec and W Lout


Sun and Wind Building shadows are often welcome in the summer, but less so in the cold of winter. They influence the desirability of a footpath and influence the choice of plant species. The long shadows of winter keep paths and driveways from thawing. More significant is the effect of solar access on the energy use of each building. Cooling loads exceed heating in many buildings today, so it is important to reduce heat gain resulting from direct exposure of windows to the sun, especially in summer. By orienting buildings with their narrow elevations facing east and west, the area of window glass exposed to low angle rays of the sun in the morning and evening will be minimized. Good insulation and reflective roof finishes also aid in reducing heat gain, and thus the energy used in cooling. Deciduous trees on the south and west of buildings screen them from such heating in the summer, yet admit heating rays in the winter, when they are welcome. At present, buildings provide little shade in the summer because of the high sun angle, while they shade the major pedestrian paths in the winter because of low sun angle. The wind roses for each season show that winds from the west and northwest predominate year-round. Breezes from the south are fairly common, except in winter. Northeasterly winds are rare. This information is important in enabling natural ventilation of buildings, and in creation of comfortable microclimates outdoors. It informs planting patterns and locations to create windbreaks where necessary.

Winter Winds

Spring Winds

Summer Winds

Fall Winds

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Campus Development Campus Use Organization Established uses on the campus are mostly grouped together into clearly identifiable areas. This is the result of numerous decisions over the long history of the College, and suggests a natural affinity or functional adjacency between buildings in each group. With few exceptions, this pattern of uses should be respected and maintained; the exceptions are mixed uses, and those academic uses that also have a public function.

WEST NORTH STREET

Academic GOODYEAR 501 W. LOUTHER

CHERRY ST.

TOME HALL

NORTH WEST STREET

CEDAR STREET

Old West and the Academic Green represent the ancient tradition of Dickinson College, supported by East College, Stern and Bosler Hall. Most of the buildings to the west of them were built in the last half century; some more compatible with their noble antecedents than others.

NORTH COLLEGE STREET

KAUFMAN 139

DANA

SCIENCE

HILLEL

TOWNHOUSES 425

417

WEST LOUTHER STREET

DAVIDSON HALL

Campus “Center” ANITA TUVIN SCHLECHTER AUDITORIUM

CONWAY HALL

BUCHANAN HALL

McKENNEY HALL

Health & Recreation

170 STERN

QUARRY

STUART HOLLAND UNION BUILDING

ALTHOUSE

OLD WEST

EAST COLLEGE

BAIRD HALL

McCLINTOCK HALL

McKENNEY HALL

KLINE CENTER

PHYSICAL PLANT DEPARTMENT

COOPER HALL

LONGSDORFF HALL

ORANGE ST.

ATWATER HALL

MONTGOMERY HALL

WILSON HALL

ARMSTRONG HALL

The ‘Building Use’ map is more finely grained than the preceding ‘campus Development’ map, but tells a similar story.

KISNERWOODWARD HALL

WAIDNER LIBRARY

BOYD LEE SPAHR LIBRARY

BOSLER

BRITTON PLAZA

McKENNEY HALL

BIDDLE HOUSE DENNY

WEST HIGH STREET WEST HIGH STREET ASBELL 448

WAIDNER MORGAN PRESIDENT'S HOUSE WEISS CENTER

MALCOLM MORGAN GREEN

REED

GLENDALE STREET

MOORELAND

Student Life

34 TODD SOUTH COLLEGE

49/51 DRAYER

Campus “Gateway”

MATTHEWS

CONWAY STREET

PARKER STREET

WILSON STREET

BELVEDERE STREET

BIDDLE AVENUE EAST

POMFRET STREET

WITWER

46

SOUTH WEST STREET

SYNTHETIC TURF FOOTBALL/ SOCCER FIELD

MOORELAND AVENUE

POMFRET STREET

ADAMS

ALLISON CHURCH

HOUSING

BIDDLE AVENUE SOUTH

STRAYER

LAW SCHOOL

N

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0


Campus Landscape Transitions to ahistoric Transitions to historic neighborhood scale neighborhoood scale

Existing Landscape Zones Parts of the campus, such as Academic Campus and Morgan Green are considered ‘sacred’ and will remain essentially unchanged. Other parts are open to changes that will embody the College’s commitment to sustainable materials and practices. Some western parts of the campus are essentially industrial in character, and while adhering to principles of sustainability, merit utilitarian treatment. Edges of the campus that abut parts of Carlisle where neighbor sensitivities to College activities are an issue demand special attention.

Historic Campus Core

A close examination of the campus reveals many subcategories of landscape by use. The ways in which each responds to adjacent building uses and circulation reveals its appropriateness. In some cases, uses have changed, but the landscape has not. Primary circulation routes through the campus and principal or destination open spaces are the primary form-givers. Any changes in these will change the dynamic of landscape and circulation. The campus has an impressive heritage of mature trees, and these are very important to its landscape character. Some of those trees are nearing the end of their lives, suggesting that succession planting of young trees be established. The particular relationship of individual trees to buildings and open spaces throughout the campus is not evident in this plan, but must nevertheless be considered.

Border of historic Town-Gown edge downtown district

Main Campus

Industrial Edge

Combining the tree plan with campus character emphasizes the differences between historic, intermediate and industrial areas. Trees also give identity to the streets that subdivide the campus: some by their consistency and maturity; some, like north Cherry Street, by their complete absence.

Major landscape character Historic landscape • •

Transitional Campus landscape The western edge of the Campus has long, low Ruraland Industrial landscape buildings, large roads, undefined spaces that lack intimacy and make the area feel utilitarian. Neighborhood scale hierarchy, transitions The area lacks a landscape structure, and plantings that help to define spaces and frame Property line views.

• •

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Historic Core

The Main Campus has an intimate spatial quality. The buildings are closely spaced and are arranged around smaller open spaces or courtyards. The majority of the buildings face inward and away from the streets. In many cases the buildings have small garden spaces. These spaces create successful “thresholds” between open spaces and the buildings and a strong sense of a “green” campus. Lack of plantings and enclosures in some places, leads to a bare and exposed spatial quality. The parking and services that are integrated into the campus interrupt the flow of pedestrian movement and undermine the sense of a coherent campus.

• • •

The Historic Core covers mostly the John Dickinson and the Benjamin Rush Campuses. The Historic Core has a majestic, tranquil, and enduring quality. The buildings are arranged around large central “Greens” but lack building related landscapes such as forecourts and terraces that create from 1”=transitions 400’ the “Greens” to the buildings.


Existing Landscape Types

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campus master plan

zimmer gunsul frasca architects llp andropogon associates

Campus Greens t

Existing Landscape Types

Simple arrangement of two vegetation layers manicured lawns with specimen canopy trees

Open Space Usage Quadrangles t t

Plazas

☼ ☼ ☼

t t

Fully contained spaces protected by a complex of long low buildings Extension of the building interior.

Intermediate scale spaces with a variety of paving and textures intended to evoke interest Vegetation helps reduce the monolithic quality of paving.

Threshold Gardens t t t

Key entries and places Small garden spaces complement the building architecture Support casual outdoor activity and enliven the campus landscape.

☼ Unique features t

Offer opportunities for meditation and intimate scale interaction. Morgan rocks, etc.

Athletic Fields t t t

Campus Greens

CampusQuadrangles Greens

• Large green open spaces with lawns and Plazas specimen canopy Threshold Gardenstrees, prevalent in the historic campus core. Features ☼ Unique Athletic Fields

Streetscapes Quadrangles

• Contained spaces that are bordered and proTransitional Landscapes tected by long low buildings. These occur south and west of the historic campus core. • Quadrangles are open spaces that feel like an extension of spaces within the surrounding buildings.

Plazas

• Spaces of intermediate size that are actively used at building entrances or as gathering places. • Vegetation can be used to reduce the monolithic appearance of paving.

Threshold Gardens

Unique features

• Places of interaction with a particular identity, such as Morgan Rocks.

Athletic Fields

• Playing fields, track and tennis courts on the western fringes of the campus across High 1”= 400’ Street from industrial buildings, marking western entry to the campus.

Streetscapes

• Formal landscapes characterized by a linear arrangement of buildings, street trees and other landscape elements. • Streetscapes can include traditional allees and clipped hedges.

Transitional Landscapes

• Discontinuous exterior space lacks a sense of scale.

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Located on the fringes of the campus. Adjacent to the transitional space Offer the first views of the campus approaching from the west.

Alumni Commons

Streetscapes • Private Events, weddings

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Formal landscape characterized by use of • t Small upscale college events, receptions

2

vegetation and landscape elements in an architectural manner. Includes traditional allees, and clipped hedges

t John Dickinson Campus

• Outdoor classrooms Transitional Landscapes • Informal meeting area t Discontinuous exterior space lacking a sense of • Summer Camps scale • Convocation & Commencements

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Memorial Gardens

4

Morgan Green

• Admission related events

• • • • •

Morgan Green Rock Outcrop • Informal meeting area • Outdoor classroom

6a-6 Upper & Lower Quad Courtyards • Informal meeting area

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Volleyball Court

8

Biddle Field

• Informal games

• Sporting Events

Concerts Orientation Large picnics Spring and Fall Fests Community Activities

• Landscape related directly to a building that complements the architecture and provides orientation at an entrance. • Threshold gardens support casual outdoor activity and enliven the campus landscape.

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dickinson college

Existing Vegetation Characteristics - Campus

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campus maste

Existing campus master plan Vegetation Characteristics - Street Existing Historic Vegetation Characteristics • The historic vegetation Streets zone is characterized by flat,

Existing Vegetation Characteristics Campus

Bo

shadowed lawn with large mature canopy trees. Some old trees are in decline. The new plantings are of smaller scale trees and will not result in a similar historic character. There is also a need for assesment and maintenance by an arborist. Plantings other than trees and grass have been relegated to left over spaces and are not an integral part of the zone.

Ca

Expanded Campus •

The Expanded Campus zone is characterized by multilayered plantings. Shrubs and understory plantings have been used to create interest. This zone contains no central green; green spaces are comprised of courtyard spaces, threshold gardens, streets, and paths.

Industrial •

Ru

The Industrial zone is characterized by lack of plantings around existing buildings.

1”= 400’

1”= 400’

Industrial Edge

• The industrial zone has minimal green landscape and very few plantings around the buildings.

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Main Campus

• The Main Campus zone is characterized by multi-layered plantings. Shrubs and understory plantings create a lush landscape. • This zone has no central green. Green spaces here are smaller courtyards, threshold gardens, streets, and paths.

Historic Core

• The historic vegetation zone is characterized by flat, shadowed lawn with large mature canopy trees. • Some of the mature, large canopy specimen trees are in decline. New plantings are of species that will not achieve the same majestic scale. Assessment and maintenance by a certified arborist is advised. • Plantings other than lawn and trees are limited to remnant spaces.

Boulevard

• The major campus boulevards are typically planted with evenly spaced rows or allees of a single tree species. • Irregular gaps show in the allees where trees have been removed. Few have been replaced. • The broad canopy trees chosen as street trees overarch the street and fit the scale of a grand boulevard. • In some places, tree planting along streets and close to buildings is scattered and looks incomplete.

Campus Street

• Typically, campus streets are planted with rows of trees of a single species. • In places, there are irregular gaps where trees are missing. Few have been replaced. • The size and branching characteristics of chosen tree species are often out of scale with the campus streets that they line.

Industrial Corridor

• Plantings are often unbalanced and fail to enhance the quality of the corridor. • Scattered tree planting along the streets and near buildings does not relieve the harshness of the environment.


dickinso

Visual Assessment - Iconic Views & Edges

Visual Assessment - Iconic Views &

Visual Assessment - Iconic Views & Edges

Gateways and Nodes

campus m

5 4

1

4

1

2

3 6

2

Front facing Treatment Backfacing Edge Treatment

Gateways

• Gateways mark the thresholds from the surrounding areas into the Campus. • Dickinson Campus has many entry points that are marked by historic gates. These gates, in conjunction with the buildings and the landscape, help to establish the campus as an identifiable place.

Nodes

• Nodes are areas of pause in the landscape where people gather informally, usually at the intersection of different routes or at areas of interest. • The Dickinson campus has numerous identifiable nodes that either occur along major pedestrian routes or adjacent to large outdoor spaces. These nodes help to populate the larger outdoor spaces, thus contributing to the safety and security of the campus.

• A number of gateways are located Front facing Treatment throughout the campus and they Backfacing Edge Treatment mark thresholds into various line precincts and Property help define the sense of “campus”. • Views of historic buildings such as Old West are to be preserved, maintaining a sense of permanence of the campus.

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Property line

Iconic Views

1”= 400’

1

2

3

4

5

6

5

Edge Conditions

• As the campus expanded to the west, the image and identity of the original college buildings was lost. • Buildings along certain parts of the campus boundary are out of scale with nearby institutional buildings. • Many buildings, such as the housing quads, are oriented towards interior courtyards and do not relate to campus streets.

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5


Campus Circulation Street Type The function and character of streets and right-of-ways through the campus have clearly influenced the location and orientation of buildings and open spaces. The locations of accidents involving pedestrians prompts attention to improving safety measures at those and similar places.

WEST NORTH STREET

139

501 W. LOUTHER

CHERRY ST.

TOME HALL

GOODYEAR

NORTH WEST STREET

139

DANA

SCIENCE

HILLEL

TOWNHOUSES 425 425

S TOWNHOUSE

417 417

WEST LOUTHER STREET

DAVIDSON HALL

ARMSTRONG HALL

WILSON HALL

PARKING

PARKING

KISN ER-

AREA PARKING

STUART

AREA

TUVIN ANITA ANITATUVIN R SCHLECHTER SCHLECHTE AUDITORIUM AUDITORIUM

WOODWARD HALL

CONWAY HALL

BUCHANAN HALL

HOLLAND UNION BUILDING

ALTHOUSE

OLD WEST

EAST COLLEGE

McKENNEY HALL

BAIRD HALL McKENNEY HALL

McCLINTOCK HALL

COOPER HALL

LONGSDORFF HALL

KLINE CENTER

PHYSICAL PLANT DEPARTMENT

170

STERN

QUARRY

AREA

TGOMERY MON MONTGOMERY HALL

KISNERWOODWARD HALL

ATWATER HALL

ORANGE ST.

Four street function types (see map this page) and eight character types (map next page) are illustrated here.

CEDAR STREET

Separate from street function is streetscape character. Downtown streets are typically defined by tall buildings built up to the sidewalks. By contrast, industrial character streets like those west of the campus are irregularly developed, often with single-story buildings set back from the sidewalk, and many undeveloped lots.

NORTH COLLEGE STREET

KAUFMAN

WAIDNER LIBRARY

BOYD LEE SPAHR LIBRARY

BOSLER

BRITTON PLAZA

McKENNEY HALL

BIDDLE HOUSE DENNY

WEST HIGH STREET

WEST HIGH STREET ASBELL PARKING

AREA

448 448 PARKING

WAIDNER MORGAN

AREA

PRESIDENT'S HOUSE

TENNIS COURTS

WEISS CENTER

MALCOLM MORGAN GREEN

TENNIS COURTS

GLENDALE STREET

MOORELAND

REED

34 TODD

49/51

SOUTH COLLEGE 46

DRAYER

SOUTH WEST STREET

SYNTHETIC TURF FOOTBALL/ SOCCER FIELD

MOORELAND AVENUE

POMFRET STREET

MATTHEWS

CONWAY STREET

PARKER STREET

WILSON STREET

BELVEDERE STREET

BIDDLE AVENUE EAST

POMFRET STREET

WITWER

ADAMS

ALLISON CHURCH

HOUSING

BIDDLE AVENUE SOUTH

STRAYER

LAW SCHOOL

N

0

100’

500’

State Highway Regional Rail Borough Campus Accident Locations

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Existing Streetscape Character

Existing Street Character

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Boulevard Campus Street Historic Town Street Neighborhood Street Industrial Corridor Boulevard

KAUFMAN

Campus Street Rail Corridor Alley Property line

Mid-block crossing at West High Street

Mid-block crossing at North College Street

1�= 300’

Freight Rail crossing at Louther and Cherry St.

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Streetscape Character 1. Campus Street

2 1

Building Landscape “Threshold Garden”

Streetscape

Internal campus streets are generally of pedestrian scale with tree lined sidewalks

2. Boulevard

Building Landscape “Threshold Garden”

• •

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Boulevard

Campus Green

High Street bisects the campus. This road brings heavy traffic into the center of the campus, resulting in numerous conflicts with pedestrian movement. High Street is built to an arterial scale. It is very wide: street design favors fast moving vehicles, making it unsafe and intimidating for pedestrians crossing the campus.

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Building Landscape “Threshold Garden”


Streetscape Character

1. Neighborhood Street

2

3 1

Building Landscape

Streetscape

“Threshold Garden”

• • •

• • •

“Threshold Garden”

Neighborhood Streets are characterized by front lawns and porches forming semi-private spaces that are perceived as part of the streetscape. Property boundaries defined by low hedges or fences help create outdoor rooms adjacent to the street, shared by street users. Tree lined sidewalks make the streets more pedestrian friendly.

2. Industrial Street

Transitional Space

Building Landscape

3. Historic Street

Streetscape

Parking

Industrial Streets are wide and characterized by large, amorphous spaces and ill-defined edges that allow the space to bleed away. The sidewalks have no tree canopy or enclosure, feel exposed and are unpleasant in the summer. These streets are not “pedestrian friendly”.

Streetscape • •

Most historic streets are compatible with human scale and are pedestrian friendly. College and Borough interests overlap in historic streets where housing and commerce serve both. Draft Final April 2008

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Master Plan Recommendations



N. West St.

W. North St.

WEST NORTH STREET

GOODYEAR 501 W. LOUTHER

CHERRY ST.

TOME HALL

139

NORTH WEST STREET

NORTH COLLEGE STREET

CEDAR STREET

KAUFMAN

DANA

SCIENCE

HILLEL

W. Louther St.

WEST LOUTHER STREET

Expanded Core

170

STERN

QUARRY

DAVIDSON HALL

ARMSTRONG HALL

WILSON HALL

STUART HOLLAND UNION BUILDING

ALTHOUSE

OLD WEST

EAST COLLEGE

CONWAY HALL

BUCHANAN HALL

BAIRD HALL McKENNEY HALL

Eliminate Barriers

McCLINTOCK HALL

McKENNEY HALL

KLINE CENTER

PHYSICAL PLANT DEPARTMENT

COOPER HALL

LONGSDORFF HALL

ATWATER HALL

WAIDNER LIBRARY

W. High St.

Improve Campus Links

BOYD LEE SPAHR LIBRARY

BOSLER

BRITTON PLAZA

McKENNEY HALL

BIDDLE HOUSE

DENNY

WEST HIGH STREET

WEST HIGH STREET ASBELL WAIDNER MORGAN

High-I Initiative

PRESIDENT'S HOUSE WEISS CENTER

MALCOLM MORGAN GREEN

MOORELAND

REED

34 TODD

49/51

SOUTH COLLEGE 46

DRAYER

MATTHEWS

CONWAY STREET

PARKER STREET

WILSON STREET

BIDDLE AVENUE EAST

POMFRET STREET

WITWER

SOUTH WEST STREET

SYNTHETIC TURF FOOTBALL/ SOCCER FIELD

MOORELAND AVENUE

POMFRET STREET

BELVEDERE STREET

W. Pomfret St.

ADAMS

ALLISON CHURCH

Key Opportunity Sites

HOUSING

BIDDLE AVENUE SOUTH

STRAYER

Campus Edge / Gateway Projects LAW SCHOOL

Mooreland Ave.

Enhance Campus Edges

GLENDALE STREET

ORANGE ST.

Dickinson Walk, which could extend from East College to the Kline Athletic Center; An intersecting walk between Morgan Field and the Rector Science Campus; High Street, which is currently a barrier to north-south movement across the campus due to heavy traffic; The railroad corridor which divides the campus diagonally.

Orange St.

Cherry St.

Cedar St.

Features of the campus for which full potential has not been realized:

N. College St.

Campus Opportunities: Core, Links and Edges

Pedestrian Links Public Right-of-Way Improvements

Draft Final April 2008

31


Potential Development, Building Uses and Open Space Potential Development Deficiencies in facilities and anticipated additional needs are addressed in the approximate footprints of future buildings in red. Also included are footprints for future uses that have yet to be defined, as additional facilities will become necessary even if enrollment does not change. Potential building removal is shown in blue.

WEST NORTH STREET

501 W. LOUTHER

CHERRY ST.

TOME HALL

GOODYEAR

139

NORTH WEST STREET

CEDAR STREET

Buildings and open spaces on campus are functionally and aesthetically co-dependent, through circulation, architectural setting, landscape quality, microclimate, and aptitude for social interaction. Consequently, the campus master plan recommendations address buildings and open spaces together.

NORTH COLLEGE STREET

KAUFMAN

DANA

SCIENCE

HILLEL

WEST LOUTHER STREET

DAVIDSON HALL

ARMSTRONG HALL

Buildings and open spaces on campus are functionally and aesthetically co-dependent, through circulation, architectural setting, landscape quality, microclimate, and aptitude for social interaction. Consequently, the campus master plan recommendations address buildings and open spaces together.

170

STERN

QUARRY

WILSON HALL

STUART HOLLAND UNION BUILDING

ALTHOUSE

OLD WEST

EAST COLLEGE

CONWAY HALL

BUCHANAN HALL

McKENNEY HALL

BAIRD HALL

McCLINTOCK HALL

McKENNEY HALL

KLINE CENTER

PHYSICAL PLANT DEPARTMENT

COOPER HALL

LONGSDORFF HALL

ORANGE ST.

ATWATER HALL

WAIDNER LIBRARY

BOYD LEE SPAHR LIBRARY

BOSLER

BRITTON PLAZA

McKENNEY HALL

BIDDLE HOUSE DENNY

WEST HIGH STREET

WEST HIGH STREET ASBELL WAIDNER MORGAN

PRESIDENT'S HOUSE WEISS CENTER

MALCOLM MORGAN GREEN

MOORELAND

GLENDALE STREET

REED

34

MOORELAND AVENUE

SYNTHETIC TURF FOOTBALL/ SOCCER FIELD

TODD SOUTH COLLEGE

49/51

46

DRAYER

SOUTH WEST STREET

POMFRET STREET

MATTHEWS

CONWAY STREET

PARKER STREET

WILSON STREET

BELVEDERE STREET

BIDDLE AVENUE EAST

POMFRET STREET

WITWER

ADAMS

ALLISON CHURCH

Existing HOUSING

BIDDLE AVENUE SOUTH

Potential Demo

STRAYER

LAW SCHOOL

Potential Building Uses

Potential Open Space WEST NORTH STREET

WEST NORTH STREET

HILLEL GOODYEAR 501 W. LOUTHER

New Green

ALTHOUSE

OLD WEST

EAST COLLEGE

ALTHOUSE

BRITTON PLAZA

McKENNEY HALL

CONWAY HALL

BIDDLE HOUSE

BUCHANAN HALL

Britton Plaza

McKENNEY HALL

KLINE CENTER

PHYSICAL PLANT DEPARTMENT

McKENNEY HALL

BOSLER

BAIRD HALL

COOPER HALL

BOYD LEE SPAHR LIBRARY

LONGSDORFF HALL

WAIDNER LIBRARY

ORANGE ST.

McKENNEY HALL

McKENNEY HALL

BAIRD HALL

McCLINTOCK HALL

WAIDNER LIBRARY

McKENNEY HALL

DENNY

WEST HIGH STREET

WEST HIGH STREET

BOYD LEE SPAHR LIBRARY

DENNY

WEST HIGH STREET ASBELL WAIDNER

WAIDNER MORGAN

PRESIDENT'S HOUSE

PRESIDENT'S HOUSE WEISS CENTER

MALCOLM MORGAN GREEN

MOORELAND

Academic

HOUSING

BIDDLE AVENUE SOUTH

STRAYER

Support

April 2008

Parking

46

WITWER

ADAMS

ALLISON CHURCH

Existing

HOUSING

BIDDLE AVENUE SOUTH

STRAYER

LAW SCHOOL

Residential

SOUTH COLLEGE

DRAYER

Admin - Common

LAW SCHOOL

Draft Final

CONWAY STREET

ALLISON CHURCH

34

49/51

POMFRET STREET

PARKER STREET

ADAMS

REED

TODD

MATTHEWS

WILSON STREET

CONWAY STREET

PARKER STREET

WILSON STREET

BIDDLE AVENUE EAST

WITWER

Biddle Field

BIDDLE AVENUE EAST

SOUTH WEST STREET

DRAYER

BELVEDERE STREET

46

GLENDALE STREET

SOUTH COLLEGE

POMFRET STREET

32

SYNTHETIC TURF FOOTBALL/ SOCCER FIELD

MOORELAND AVENUE

POMFRET STREET 34

MATTHEWS

BELVEDERE STREET

MORGAN GREEN

TODD

49/51

WEISS CENTER

Morgan Green

MALCOLM

REED

MOORELAND AVENUE

GLENDALE STREET

MOORELAND

EAST COLLEGE

BIDDLE HOUSE

WEST HIGH STREET

MORGAN

SYNTHETIC TURF FOOTBALL/ SOCCER FIELD

Academic Green

OLD WEST

BOSLER

BRITTON PLAZA

ASBELL

POMFRET STREET

STUART

SOUTH WEST STREET

BUCHANAN HALL

HOLLAND UNION BUILDING

ATWATER HALL

COOPER HALL

CONWAY HALL

DAVIDSON HALL

STUART HOLLAND UNION BUILDING

170

STERN

QUARRY

WILSON HALL

ARMSTRONG HALL

DAVIDSON HALL

ARMSTRONG HALL LONGSDORFF HALL

McCLINTOCK HALL

HILLEL

170

STERN

QUARRY

WILSON HALL

ATWATER HALL

KLINE CENTER

DANA

SCIENCE

WEST LOUTHER STREET

WEST LOUTHER STREET

PHYSICAL PLANT DEPARTMENT

TOME HALL

139

NORTH WEST STREET

CEDAR STREET

DANA

SCIENCE

CHERRY ST.

CHERRY ST.

501 W. LOUTHER

NORTH WEST STREET

NORTH COLLEGE STREET

CEDAR STREET

TOME HALL

GOODYEAR

139

NORTH COLLEGE STREET

KAUFMAN

KAUFMAN

ORANGE ST.

Potential New

New and Enhanced


1. 2. 3.

4.

Reinforce campus identity within the town and promote campus-town connectivity. Create an open space structure that promotes student life and activities around the campus core. Promote an accessible pedestrian campus with emphasis on pedestrian safety, security, and ease of movement. Promote open space development based on sustainable principles.

N. West St.

W. North St. Orange St.

Goals for the Landscape Framework:

N. College St.

The enhancement of the campus’ existing open space and future development will be guided by a framework of enhanced green corridors, connecting paths, gateways, campus greens and special areas, or nodes. Points of entry to the campus will be identifiable gateways, marking arrival at the campus. ‘Nodes’ signify concentrations of outdoor activity.

Cherry St.

Campus Opportunities Cedar St.

Open Space Framework

W. Louther St.

Preliminary Landscape Opportunities:

• •

• • •

The campus has an extensive interface with the Borough of Carlisle. The thresholds provide an opportunity for new Gateways. The strong circulation system within the town fabric can be expanded to realize a pedestrian friendly campus as well as create positive connections to the immediate neighborhood while maintaining the historical context. The existing landscape fabric can provide new outdoor places for student life. Vegetation can be used to define the Landscape structure of the campus and enhance linkages through the campus. The Railroad ROW offers an opportunity for a “green” core that can function as an ecological connector. The Historical Core of the campus: the John Dickinson Campus and The Benjamin Rush Campus still have recognizable characters with mature trees. The Landscape Precincts can be “greened” with the use of appropriate native vegetation. Back streets and alleys can be developed creatively to enliven the campus edges. Paved parking areas within the campus can be converted to sustainable landscape spaces. Efforts of the faculty and the students already underway can be expanded to develop a sustainable approach to Landscape restoration, maintenance and management.

W. High St.

W. Pomfret St.

Green Corridors

Green Corridors

Gateways

Gateways

Large Openspace Nodes

Mooreland Ave.

Large Openspace Nodes

Draft Final April 2008

33


Proposed Gateways, Nodes, and Boundaries

The experience of arrival can be strengthened by marking passage into the campus with special gateway features. The entrance to east campus from High Street at West Street is distinguished by a transition from buildings flanking the sidewalk to open greens and mature trees. Introduction of crosswalks designed to calm traffic would further emphasize this gateway.

Boundaries can be defined effectively using a suitable landscape vocabulary of hardscape and planting materials without resort to buildings or barriers.

S R

Outdoor dining facilities can be included in the open space system; spaces that could on occasion be used to host community events.

Consistent use of a palette of materials that are complementary to the historical campus can give visual continuity to the whole.

S

W. Louther St.

R C

A

M

S

R

S

F+S

S

S

W. High St.

R

Sometimes, rather than marking a boundary it is preferable to create a space that can be shared with neighbors for community events and festivals. For instance, the space between the Weiss Center and the President’s House could accommodate a sculpture garden that can be opened to the Carlisle community.

S

S

R

A

S

C

C

A

W. Pomfret St.

Mooreland Ave.

zimmer gunsul frasca architects llp andropogon associates

W. North St.

NODES are outdoor gathering spaces strategically placed at path intersections or adjacent to larger open spaces. Occupation of such spaces enlivens the whole area, and by populating it, places all in public view thus improving public saftey. Nodes may also be associated with building entrances. •

campus master plan

N. West St.

GATEWAYS mark entrances to the campus and can be used to strengthen campus identity, differentiating College uses.

1.25.08

Cherry St.

Cedar St.

Proposed Gateways, Nodes, and Boundaries

dickinson college N. College St.

Campus-wide recommendations

Gateways

Major

Nodes

Types of Nodes

Proposed

Proposed

Enhanced

Enhanced

Minor

Major

Campus Boundary Proposed extention

C

Cultural-Community - big gathering, event space

A

Athletic - programmed recreational space

S

Flexible Space - social gathering/academic space

R

Residential - semi-private space, not restricted access

F

Retail-Food-Facility - Cafe/outdoor dining opportunties inconjunction with retail

Reinforced existing

Campus Greens Existing and Proposed Campus Greens

Minor

1”= 400’ 34

Draft Final

April 2008


dickinson college 1.25.08 dickinson college Campus-wide recommendations Campus-wide recommendations campus master plan campus master plan

Campus-wide recommendations

W. North St.

1.25.08 zimmer gunsul frasca architects llp andropogon associates

N. College St.

Proposed Path System

Proposed Path System Proposed Path SystemProposed & Enhanced Landscape Types Cherry St.

N. College St.

Cherry St.

Proposed & Enhanced Landscape Types

zimmer gunsul frasca architects llp andropogon associates

• Creating pedestrian linkages between different neighborhoods of the campus will shorten perceived distances. In addition, integrating altenative modes of transportation into the pedestrian and vehicular circulation will promote a walkable Campus.

W. North St.

• Developing an appropriate hierarchy of path system based on usage will contribute towards ease of pedestrian movement on the Campus and eliminate excess pavement and redundant paths. • Integrating raised tables or traffic calming structures at pedestrian crosswalks will tremendously improve pedestrian safety.

☼ ☼

W. High St.

Campus Greens Proposed Enhanced

Quadrangles Proposed Enhanced

Plazas Proposed Enhanced

Building Entry Proposed Enhanced

Dickinson College has several unique outdoor spaces like the Historic “Greens”, Morgan rocks, and the Pond. Ongoing projects and future campus growth will allow Dickinson to create a new open space structure that integrates the natural structure of the Campus with the existing historic heritage as well as offer opportunities for new special places.

Unique Features

☼ Proposed ☼ Enhanced

Creating an open space structure will involve enhancing existing landscape types, creating new landscape types, and linking the spaces with pedestrian oriented circulation corridors. Strategies: •

Create new large open spaces and use them as organizing elements to rebalance the campus fabric. Integrate a strong pedestrian pathway and a bikeway system into existing circulation corridors like the

Existing

Streetscapes & Green Corridors Proposed Enhanced

Existing

Proposed

Proposed

Primary Path 15-18’

Primary Path 15-18’

Secondary Path 12’

Secondary Path 12’

Tertiary Path 8’

Tertiary Path 8’

Sidewalk 6’

Sidewalk 6’

Trail 6’

Trail 6’

BikeLane

BikeLane

roadway network and the rail corridor. Since a large part of the campus is a streetscape, converting these into “Green Corridors” will help to 1”=integrate 400’ pedestrian and bike linkages into the existing right of ways and create a pedestrian friendly campus.

Promoting a pedestrian friendly campus will involve Share car parking and Bike stations creating new walkways, consolidating existing ones, Traffic Calming Device improving crosswalks, and providing shaded walkways.

Create a hierarchy of new gathering spaces and enhance existing spaces along primary, secondary, and tertiary pedestrian routes as well as building entries. These improvements will help to enhance student life near the campus core. Design and location of spaces can be based on use, views, adjacencies, and microclimate considerations.

Create pedestrian linkages between different neighborhoods of the campus and integrate bike lanes into the circulation system. This will shorten perceived distances and promote a walkable Campus.

Develop an appropriate hierarchy of paths based on function. This will contribute to ease of pedestrian movement on the Campus and eliminate redundant paths and excess pavement.

Integrate speed tables or traffic calming structures at pedestrian crosswalks to improve pedestrian safety.

Both plantings and architectural elements can be used to enhance the landscape spaces. Landscapes at building entries can provide focal points and act as threshold gardens or transition spaces between the private and public realm.

W. High St.

• Way finding and interpretive/ educational signage around the campus can be strategically located at “nodes”, destinations, intesections. or ourdoor demonstration areas.

Share car parking and Bike stations Traffic Calming Device

1”= 400’

Strategies: •

Develop a comprehensive system of signage within the campus to support an enhanced circulation system. Strategically locate way finding, building, and interpretive signage at “nodes”, destinations, intersections, and outdoor sustainability demonstration areas around the campus.

Draft Final April 2008

35


N. West St.

Cherry St.

Cedar St.

The illustrative plan is a compilation of recommended changes in facilities and landscape, intended to give an impression of the whole campus as is might appear ten to twenty years from now.

N. College St.

Illustrative Plan

Overview of Potential Facility and Landscape Improvements

W. North St. 10

Historic Campus

8 6

Orange St.

16 2

W. Louther St.

1

Weiss Arts Complex

2

Alumni Green

3

John Dickinson Green

4

Althouse Renovation

9 11

14

High Street 7

16

4

5

Enhancements

3

Campus Core

16 5

W. High St. 15

15 1

13 12

Right-of-Way

16

6

Science Center

7

HUB Redesign

8

Center for Sustainability

9

New Green

10 Parking Athletics West Campus

17

W. Pomfret St. 11 Kline Center Addition 12 Biddle Field Improvements 13 Parking

18

14 Daycare Expansion Residential Life

Mooreland Ave.

W. South St.

36

Draft Final

April 2008

Facility Improvements 15 New Facilities 16 Landscape Enhancement 17 Morgan Amphitheater 18 Parking


Aerial View of Potential Campus Improvements View is from the South-East. Potential new development is shown in blue.

Goodyear

N

er . Ch

ry S

t.

Biddle FIeld Kline Kaufman

New Green

Quads

N.

Rector Science Complex

ll Co

eg

eS

t.

Library

HUB Morgan

Dana Althouse

Morgan Green

Bosler

Old West

Waidner

Stern

Weiss

John Dickinson Green

East College

.L W ou th St

Denny

er .

President’s House

.H W ig h St . Draft Final April 2008

37


The Historic Campus: The Academic Green, East College, South College

The historic campus epitomizes Dickinson College for many, and the precedents it establishes in architecture and open space design have quite rightly been adhered to in most subsequent expansions of the campus. This does not imply architectural pastiche for new buildings, nor a limitation to mowed lawns and specimen trees for open spaces. However it does demand compatibility with the historic campus in the scale and materials of buildings and in the scale and quality of landscape.

Dana

There is an opportunity to create a sculpture garden between the Weiss Center and the President’s House. There is also an opportunity to replace performing arts space in ATS with new space complementary to Rubendall Recital Hall. Removal of the old energy plant north of Althouse provides an opportunity to rethink the use of parking lots north of Althouse and Old West. A place of outdoor congress could be created through some simple landscape interventions south of Stern between Old West and East College. •

New Green near Althouse and the Quarry

New Green

Althouse

Create a sculpture park and an Arts Alley between Weiss Center and the President’s House, with outdoor display areas and seating . This pedestrian connection with the town will provide opportunities for interaction at the edge of the campus. Both permanant artwork and temporary exhibits can be displayed.

Extending Dickinson walk into the John Dickinson Campus will complete pedestrian linkage between the historic part of the Campus and the residential west

Rearrange the paved areas in the John Dickinson Campus and the Benjamin Rush Campus to enhance open spaces and reduce stormwater runoff.

Stern

Old West

East College

Dickinson Walk

Introduce traffic-calming pedestrian crossings at the corner of High Street and West Street, strengthening an important gateway for the Campus.

Alumni Green

Bosler

Academic Green

Weiss Center - Sculpture Garden

Denny

Waidner Weiss

Sculpture Garden President’s House

Arts Complex

Stern Center - Landscape Enhancement Example

Note: Preliminary Weiss Art Center studies are in Appendix.

38

Draft Final

April 2008


The Expanded Core Area: Dickinson Walk, New Green, the HUB, and the Science Campus

Perhaps the most momentous change to the campus will be redefinition of functions and spaces between College and Cherry Streets. The Rector Science Campus will include the entire area between North and Louther Streets. Removal of townhouses on the north side of Louther Street, and of Kisner-Woodward Hall to the south will create a major new open space equivalent in scale to Morgan Green. It will be bisected by Louther Street, but will otherwise present an open green prospect from Dickinson Walk in the south to Kaufman in the north. Reconfiguration of the HUB and removal of ATS and Montgomery Hall will extend the new open space to the southeast giving prominence to the Library and to the eastward extension of Dickinson Walk across College Street to East College and the Academic Green.

Kaufman 8

Center for Sustainability

3 4

Rector Science Tome

Aerial view of New Green

2

Strategies: •

Dickinson Walk is to be extended from the Kline Athletic Center in the west to Denny Hall at its eastern terminus as the primary east-west pedestrian route through the campus. It will be accessible to emergency vehicles, and limited vehicular access will be allowed during moving in days and for deliveries; otherwise it will be the exclusive preserve of those on foot. New plazas, enhanced building entries and variously sized open spaces will be located along Dickinson Walk, providing opportunities for active, social, recreational and contemplative uses. The footpath from the Rector Science Campus through the HUB to Morgan Green will create a major new north-south pedestrian route, complementing Dickinson Walk. Interruption of cross-campus movements at streets will be reduced by introduction of traffic-calming pedestrian crossings at intersections. The railroad corridor is a remnant of Carlisle’s past, and may one day carry passenger rail, linking the campus to Harrisburg and elsewhere. In the meantime, it can accommodate a green trail as part of a regional initiative, providing safe passage for hikers and cyclists, as well as a direct route to Dickinson Park. A major new open space between Dickinson Walk and Kaufman Hall can include stormwater management features, providing a working landscape that can enrich the academic and social life of the College.

Note: Preliminary HUB studies are in Appendix. 39

Draft Final

April 2008

5

Quad

HUB 1

7 6

Library New landscaping and pathways along Rail-line

Science Green 1

Housing Green

5 Benjamin Rush Walk

2

Kaufman Meadow

6 Dickinson Walk

3

Kaufman Education Wetlands

7 HUB Plaza

4

Tome Outdoor Classroom

8 Dickinson Greenway

Enhanced Pedestrian Spine along Dickinson Walk


Athletics and West Campus

The Kline Center is the most intensely used of the College’s athletic facilities, and is appropriately closest to the center of campus. Expansion of the building will create a new entry off Cherry Street and a western terminus to Dickinson Walk. Creation of a trail along the railroad corridor will give direct access from the campus to Dickinson Park for pedestrians and cyclists. Improved pedestrian crossings on High Street will ease access to Herman Bosler Biddle Athletic Fields. Parking is necessary for events here and at the Kline Center, so a multi-story parking garage is proposed on the site of the tennis courts, which would be relocated further west. This garage will also serve every day access to the campus without bringing cars into the campus or occupying precious open space.

Daycare Physical Plant

Kline Center

Both recreational and competitive athletics are important components of the Dickinson experience. Proposed expansion of Kline Center would make Athletics more visible, with a new lobby terminating the extended Dickinson Walk. Parking displaced by the building expansion would be relocated to a new multi-story garage across High Street. Surface parking at the west end of Kline would continue to be used until addition of another indoor court becomes necessary on that site.

New Housing Parking Structure Biddle Field

Strategies: • •

Terminate Dickinson Walk in the new Kline Center lobby. Link the Kline Center directly to the proposed green trail in the railroad corridor, providing access to Dickinson Park. Implement such Best Management Practices (BMP’s) as pervious pavement, storage cisterns, and rain gardens, incorporating them into the transitional landscape fragments. These initiatives will not only provide the essential ecosystem functions but will also enhance the identity of Dickinson within the Borough. Create paths that link various athletic facilites to expand the pedestrian network. Linking these paths and nodes to bike routes make alternatives to driving more attractive.

New Courts

Note: Preliminary Kline Center studies are in Appendix. View of New Kline Entrance from Dickinson Walk Draft Final April 2008

40


Residential Life: Goodyear, the Quads, and Morgan Green

On-campus housing for students enables them to become fully engaged in academic and campus life of the College. A constant cycle of upgrading and renewal of campus housing is necessary to maintain this engagement and to promote wider social interaction. Observation of the ways in which existing housing is used has revealed successes and failures, providing valuable information for remodeling and new housing design on campus. The physical design of student housing and its setting has a direct effect on the ways in which residents relate to one-another. To what extent does each floor encourage interaction between residents, and to what extent is interaction between floors accommodated? Once outside a residence hall, is community with nearby halls encouraged through landscape design, circulation, microclimate and furnishings? As with other College activities, architecture and open space design are functionally and aesthetically inter-related.

Goodyear

The Quads HUB

Kline Center Morgan Rock Outcrop Amphitheater

Morgan Green already functions as an informal gathering space. An enhanced amphitheater on axis with Allison Church would greatly increase its usefulness and encourage community events. New Housing

Morgan Green

New Housing

Amphitheater

Parking Structure

41

Draft Final

April 2008


High Street and the High I Initiative

N. West St

Cherry St.

N. College St.

W. High Street

Mooreland Ave

High St.

Enhanced Pedestrian Crossing

42

Draft Final

April 2008

The campus is surrounded by the Borough of Carlisle, and the influence of one upon the other is greatest where they merge on High Street east of West Street. The ‘High-I’ study has investigated ways in which each can benefit the other, and has served to underline an enduring inter-dependence. Downtown Carlisle and the College have both suffered the consequences of growth in the size and frequency of vehicles using High Street as a through route, and rerouting is being investigated. The commercial vitality of downtown depends in part on the patronage of College personnel and visitors, and conversely, retail, services and restaurants provide convenient resources for the College. Events staged by the College contribute significantly to the cultural life of Carlisle. A strong spirit of cooperation is cultivated between Dickinson College and the Borough, with the result that ‘town and gown’ conflicts are kept to a minimum.

High Street is both a principal means of access to the campus, and a barrier to movement across it. The street also provides the most public views of the campus. East of the campus, High Street is clearly defined by high buildings. Those traveling westbound enter the campus as they cross West Street, with mature trees and open lawns on both sides: a strong and apt image. Approaching from the west along High Street, arrival at the campus is ill-defined; something that may be rectified with new buildings east of Cherry Street on both sides of High Street. The stretch of High Street between West and Cherry Streets can be made more consistent in its appearance, and more functional in accommodating safe crossing by pedestrians through redesign. Sidewalks should be widened, a bike lane introduced, a continuous or intermittent median may be introduced, and additional highly visible pedestrian crossings should be added. These improvements will be complemented by a ‘green corridor’ of trees. As they mature, these trees will create a consistent appearance to the edges of High Street through the campus without the addition of more walls.


Potential Enhancements

HighKey Street - AlternativeDesign 1 Landscape High Street Alternatives

dickinson college High&Street - Alternative 2 Guidelines - Urban Fit Circulation campus master plan

Landscape Median with On-Street Bike Lanes and On-Street Parking

Landscape Median with Sidewalk Bike Lane

Section (top) and Partial Plan (above)

Section (top) and Partial Plan (above)

1.25.08 zimmer gunsul frasca architects llp andropogon associates

Sketch of “Green Corridor� Landscaped Median (above) and Existing (right)

Draft Final April 2008

43



4

Implementation



Campus-wide recommendations Landscape Management

dickinson college

1.25.08

campus master plan

zimmer gunsul frasca architects llp andropogon associates

Managing Stormwater

Managing Stormwater

Increased stormwater runoff from developed areas is one of the most pervasive problems of an urbanizing world. While the opportunity exists to capture stormwater runoff and allow it to infiltrate the soil mantle, the conventional approach has been to treat the runoff as a drainage problem and to “solve” the problem with engineering solutions. These solutions are expensive, require a lot of maintenance, remove natural habitat, are usually unattractive, and ultimately not sustainable.

Promoting open space development that is based on sustainable principles will also involve integrating sustainable alternatives to conventional stormwater management. Demonstration projects can be incorporated into site development associated with new buildings as well as retrofits. These projects can be based on models that replicate the natural hydrologic cycle. Strategies: • Identify small-scale projects that have the potential to capture and divert existing run-off into landscape features designed for storage, conveyance and reuse. These retrofit opportunities can be made economically viable in conjunction with new buildings, building improvements or site improvement projects. • Integrate stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP’s) like rain gardens, green roofs, cisterns, retention ponds, bio-filtration swales, and pervious pavement into site and building design. These landscape features can be designed to discreetly fit within the urban landscape or integrated into planting areas. For instance, the redesign of the site and landscape behind Alt House can include disconnecting roof drains and diverting them into a rain garden, creating a green roof on the existing footprint of the Central Utility Plant (CUP). • Develop campus wide landscape “management” strategy to convert lawn areas in parts of the campus into an ecological landscape using native plantings. This will help to reduce storm run-off from these areas and provide screening, ecological, aesthetic, and other intangible benefits to the campus. Due to the karst geology in this area all the Best Management Practises should be carefully designed to prevent development of sinkholes. 52

Draft Final

April 2008

Infiltration/Storage

Reuse/Storage

Rain garden

Cistern

Green Roof

Wastewater reuse

Conveyance Swale Pervious Pavement

Retention Pond

1”= 500’


Proposed Landscape Management Zones Maintenance Zones

A long term management strategy for the Campus requires creating specific “management” zones. This represents a long term vision for the campus. In general, the campus is managed according to whether the landscape is primarily cultural or primarily natural. As shown on the Landscape Management Zones Map (opposite), the historic zone of the campus is treated as a Cultural Landscape fringed by a two-layered urban woodland zone. The Industrial edge can be converted into the managed natural zone. The gradual transition from the typical campus “green” to a more ecological landscape begins with integration of the “historic parkland” zone with a two-layered urban woodland zone, and managed natural zone. The area of proposed managed natural zone at the campus edge is crucial to the environmental value of the Dickinson campus.

Upgrade Areas

• The Dickinson Campus landscape is almost entirely lawn. Dickinson can replace non-essential turf areas with two-layered urban woodland and managed meadow areas that will increase seasonal interest, provide screening, enhance views, and reduce regular maintenance tasks such as mowing, mulching, etc. • In an urban campus, the landscape can provide not only the functional and aesthetic resources, but can also provide stormwater benefits and improved microclimate. Benefits to stormwater management (and, by extension, water quality) include the reduction of runoff volumes, since precipitation will be retained on the land surface longer during a storm and allowed to evaporate and soak in to the more absorbent surface layer of organic material. Pollutant loadings will also be reduced since the more diverse plantings generally require fewer chemical inputs, and will filter runoff better than lawn.

• The campus landscape should reflect an aesthetic of care. While it is important that the campus have healthy plant communities and hydrological functions, it is also essential that it looks well cared for. Native plant communities can be designed to exhibit a wellmaintained perception by paying more attention to the quality of edges like a narrow but elegant curbing or a flush stone edge. The canopy trees planted in informal groupings along the circulation corridors can act as the “Green Corridors” and help to tie together the outdoor rooms. • Existing mature trees, in addition to performing vital ecosystem functions are critical to maintaining the identity of Dickinson. This is especially true on the Dickinson and Rush Campuses. The College should preserve and maintain a healthy canopy cover. The first step is to commission a Tree Survey and Assessment to help address priorities for tree maintenance, and with planning for a coordinated tree planting program.

Draft Final April 2008

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Landscape Guidelines Integrating Education with Landscape All landscapes teach: they reflect the values of their institutions. As sustainable values receive greater prominence in academic programming and campus life, so the evident sustainability of the campus landscape should increase. Physical expression of sustainable values is apparent in the examples illustrated. These examples are not intended to convey any particular design solution, but to show a range of possible approaches. Useable spaces close to buildings allow a high degree of control and can be used as outdoor classrooms or quiet meditative spaces. The design of new facilities and the retrofit of existing ones can celebrate the movement of water through the landscape, including its steps in water quality improvement. University of Vermont, Burlington: the stormwater system ties together a new dormitory develoment, integrating open space and stormwater managment. Bioswales (top left) and infiltration ponds follow the campus pathways.

Ross School in Long Island, New York creates small gatherings spaces in conjection with filtration ponds. The details of seating walls, boulders, paving choices, and proximity to water allows students contact wtih natural systems.

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Sidwell Middle School recycles both grey water and stormwater. This LEED Platinum building also has passive heating and cooling systems. The wastewater treatment ponds provide many opportunities for exploration and explanation of water flow and biotic filtration.


Suggested Best Management Practices for Dickinson Campus Rain Gardens

Urban Swales (integrated into street design)

Urban Waste Water Treatment

Roof Gardens

Rain Gardens of many different varieties can be used to absorb water during intense storms and prevent flooding. These can be integrated into building landscapes, greens, and plazas. These Best Management Practices perform valuable ecosystem services slowing runoff, improving water quality, and allowing water to seep slowly into the ground where it can replenish the water table.

Urban Swales are hardscapes planted with floodplain and or aquatic vegetation. These channels integrate stormwater management into the edge of the roadway. This runoff can be used to irrigate street plantings and improve micro-climate.

Within buildings living machines can be used to treat wastewater and greywater. With permission of the local water authority, exterior wetlands can be constructed to receive this treated water and�polish� it.

Roof Gardens use a light weight engineered soil capable of storing stormwater and reducing structural costs. Building structural systems must be evaluated prior to retrofitting an existing roof. Native plantings can be used to create a sustainable environment.

Conceptual detail of a rain garden at a pathway crossing.

Student Center at Oberlin College, Ohio

Bio-Swales

Porous Pavement with Storage Basins underneath

Cistern

Bio-Swales slow the movement of stormwater runoff, encourage infiltration, and help remove pollutants. They can also give the campus a beautiful flowering landscape that demonstrates the flow of water across the land.

Permeable pavements can use infiltration basins. The depth of this storage basin is determined by site conditions and percolation rates.

Cisterns are structures used to store stormwater which can then be reused at a later time. Roof runoff can be intercepted in a gutter and diverted to cisterns.

Runoff from conventional paving in the drive aisle flows onto pervious asphalt within the parking spaces.

Cisterns store rainwater for future irrigation use.

A swale incorporated into a parking lot island.

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Landscape Guidelines Path & Material Hierarchy The pedestrian path system presently reflects the routes used by the Dickinson College community to traverse the campus. The master planning process presents an opportunity to clarify the campus structure, highlight primary movement corridors and building entries, and improve critical connections. The College has begun to upgrade walkways, using the width and the materials to reflect importance. As the College continues to repair walkways and renovate facilities, these efforts will help to distinguish primary walkways from secondary routes as well as highlight building entries. All walkways should be designed with wheelchair users in mind, and all should be built to support emergency and maintenance vehicles.

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Sidewalk

• Consistent use of materials along circulation routes will help to weave together different landscape characters of the Campus into a cohesive image. The illustrations on this page show how materials can correlate with path widths to convey the hierarchy of the path within the circulation system. • Asphalt can be used as the primary walkway material. Use of special accent materials like concrete, brick and granite unit pavers with granite block edgings and bands can help to articulate walkways and indicate building entrances and plazas.

18’

• The primary walkway can be 18 feet wide and constructed with unit pavers. Dickinson Walk for example can function as the primary walk and act as main cross-campus connector. • The secondary walks can be 12 feet wide constructed of unit pavers or asphalt with unit paver accents. In some cases this can replace existing service roads. • The tertiary walks and sidewalks, generally 8 feet wide, can be constructed of asphalt with edgings and bands as shown in the drawings. • Multiple traffic calming techniques like raised tables (elevated cross-walks) in conjunction with surface treatments can be used at pedestrian crossings. These traffic calming techniques can be designed in conjunction with proposed gateways. Their width and materials can reflect their place in the path hierarchy.

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Example of a raised table crossing at a Major Gateway

12’

8’

6’


Reduction of Lawn Areas A layered woodland garden can increase diversity. This can be achieved by enhancing existing planting beds or creating new beds. These layered beds can provide a dense matrix of woodland canopy trees, flowering understory trees, shrubs, and groundcover and also help to screen unpleasant views and filter traffic noise. A clear visual zone should be maintained for security.

Selected lawn areas may be replaced with groundcover to create a more erosion resistant and diverse groundlayer.

Existing Lawn Area

Layered Urban Woodland Zone

The perimeter of a quadrangle is redesigned with groundcover and trees. (University of Pennsylvania.)

Example of building edge planting

Example of woodland island planting

Turf areas adjacent to a building wall are redesigned as small perennial gardens.

Managed Natural Zone

Wide lawns in tertiary areas may be replaced with ‘rough cut’ turf or short meadow. The meadow in the photograph has been recently mown; the permanent recreational pathways are still visible.

Managed natural zones can have infomal groups of canopy trees with flowering understorey and grasses.

Example of typical planting in a managed natural zone

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Landscape Guidelines Signage & Wayfinding Dickinson would benefit greatly from a comprehensive exterior signage and wayfinding system to communicate information clearly and consistently on a campus wide scale. The campaign can combine the existing branding signage with directional and interpretive signs. • The sign system can simplify the visitor experience by identifying key destinations and parking. • A sense of community can be strengthened through a sign system that reflects the history of the College. • The signage can be expanded to incorporate interpretive elements that not only help with understanding of the natural processes at work but also can help the college to express a distinctive identity within the town.

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