USC's Master Plan is designed to accommodate future needs in a way that is thoughtful, that uses the university's limited land effectively and that will create a safe, attractive, sustainable campus and neighboring urban community.

A Master Plan Advisory Committee made up of representatives from various neighborhood organizations, churches, museums, and other stakeholders was formed in 2006. Chaired by Jackie Dupont-Walker, president of the Ward Economic Development Corporation, the group was responsible for drafting a set of guiding principles for future development that were formally adopted by the university in 2007.

Process

• Engage broad representation and participation in the master planning process from within the university, its community and stakeholder groups.
• Identify constraints, barriers, opportunities and responsibilities.
• Acknowledge all impacted partners and stakeholders.

Institutional Growth

• Accommodate a range of future campus growth that will reflect and be driven by the external environment for higher education; the university’s strategic, academic and enrollment goals; campus life initiatives; and financial resources.
• Endeavor to create a plan that will maximize benefits, minimize harm and address issues of common concern (e.g., traffic, parking, housing, community health and safety).

Development of Campus

• Make prudent use of campus land and/or buildings with consideration for new building sites, historic preservation, infill, open space and renovation or removal/replacement of low-function building stock.
• Consider opportunities to improve neighborhood (residential community) needs for green/open space.
• Consider the impact of campus growth and increase in visitor numbers on traffic and transit throughway.
• Increase student housing to reinforce USC as a residential campus, to enhance student life and to help reduce vehicle traffic to the campus.
• Enhance the pedestrian experience of the campus.
• Use architectural and landscape planning and design guidelines to extend and enhance the character of the campus.
• Use flexible general planning frameworks to allow for uncertainties of future campus development needs, opportunities and funding.

Character of Campus

• Identify existing physical plan characteristics and assets worthy of stewardship, enhancement and/or extension.
• Use open space (quads, courtyards and courts) and circulation (streets and pedestrian ways) as the campus planning organizing framework for campus planning.

Connections with Neighborhoods

• Identify opportunities to make mutually beneficial connections, provide continuity and enhance the physical form, enjoyment and use of the campus and its surrounding neighborhoods.
• Encourage and participate in neighborhood development, in concert with the greater community.
• Cultivate partnership networks with neighboring institutions and the private sector to support the development of campus and community potentials.
• Endeavor to create a plan that will maximize benefits, minimize harm and address issues of common concern (e.g., traffic, parking, housing, community health and safety).

Transportation and Parking

• Use traffic moderation strategies and encourage the use of multimodal transportation alternatives.
• Locate the majority of parking resources at the campus perimeter for convenient access and the enhancement of a pedestrian-oriented campus.
• Develop community partnerships to fully utilize existing parking supply in the neighboring community.

Stewardship and Sustainability

• Create safe and attractive livable campus environments that integrate circulation, buildings and open space.
• When developing new facilities, strive to incorporate new features that enhance their capability of being constructed and operated in an environmentally sensitive and energy-efficient way.

last updated 01/29/08