The University Park Comprehensive Campus Plan (UPCCP) will be a vision to guide how the campus grows and develops over the next decade and beyond to elevate Penn State’s academic mission while promoting responsible stewardship of campus resources and facilities to support the Strategic Plan vision and goals.
The following focus areas will be included in the plan:
- Space Analysis
- Facilities Investment Framework
- Physical Campus Improvements
- Student-Centered Spaces
- Utilities Infrastructure
- Campus Mobility
Why Do We Need a Campus Plan?
A campus plan provides a future-forward vision to guide physical improvements to support the needs of the institution. This effort to develop a Comprehensive Campus Plan for the University Park campus is the first of its kind in over 25 years. Building upon the physical framework established during the last campus-wide master planning effort in 1999 and its update in 2005, this Comprehensive Campus Plan will take into consideration the many new developments, district-level studies, and various planning efforts that have occurred since.
What Will the Comprehensive Campus Plan Address?
A primary goal of the planning effort is to align with Penn State's academic, research, and community outreach missions, and assess how potential changes will affect campus facilities and infrastructure. Additionally, the Comprehensive Campus Plan will evaluate how recent shifts in higher education—such as changes in teaching methods, technology, and funding models—may impact the University Park campus. This plan will build upon the physical framework established during the last campus-wide master planning effort in 1999 and its update in 2005, and will take into consideration the many new developments, district-level studies, and various planning efforts that have occurred since its conception. The Comprehensive Campus Plan will also respond to the goals outlined in the Penn State Strategic Plan.
Who Is Leading the Process?
This 16- to 18-month planning initiative will be managed by the Planning, Design, and Properties team within the Penn State Office of Physical Plant. Penn State has engaged NBBJ, a globally recognized planning and architectural services firm, to lead the development of the Comprehensive Campus Plan. The NBBJ team, and its subconsultant partners, includes experts in campus planning and design, space planning, utilities, sustainability, transportation and parking.
Who Is Involved?
The planning process will involve the University Park stakeholders and campus subject matter experts. The Penn State community will be engaged broadly and meaningfully through this website, at in person campus events, and via virtual meetings. The campus community will be notified on project updates and upcoming events via this website, Penn State News, and the university's social media channels.
Your input is important to help us shape the future of this great campus! The UPCCP outreach process has 3 opportunities to provide feedback and inform the Plan:
- Understanding Existing Campus Conditions [current stage]
- Reviewing Emerging Ideas
- Draft Plan Overview
Check out the Participate page to tell us your favorite things about the University Park campus and share your ideas how it can be improved. Your input will shape the Comprehensive Campus Plan and concepts for how University Park may evolve. As we progress through each phase and develop the CCP, we will periodically update the Participate page with new engagement tools and feedback summaries. Stay tuned!
The campus planning process is divided into three phases:
- Discovery & Data Gathering
- Campus Needs & Plan Scenarios
- Final Recommendations & Deliverables
As the Comprehensive Campus Plan progresses over the next 18 months, we will periodically update the Timeline page with key highlights from each of the phases. Stay tuned!
