Coming into the final group meeting for the Master Planning process, the goals were clear and I believe everyone was anxious to see the final result. After another great dinner, people were assigned to groups and immediately got to work. The groups focused on developing a timeline from the present to 2020. In the timeline, the groups needed to provide details in regards to when construction of certain buildings or features should be completed and when certain structures should be removed. After completing the timeline, the groups were charged with drawing a detailed plan that reflected everything set forth in their timeline.
When the clock struck 7:30, the groups began filtering their way back into the large meeting room of the UCPA. Once again, group members carried large papers with writing and plans scribbled about. After all of the individual presentations, it was clear that the first and foremost priority of the group was to construct a new academic building/complex to replace the ailing Koons Hall. After all, academics and the education is the reason that the college exists and it is extremely fitting that we move forward by taking drastic steps to improve the facilities in which we learn.
After listening to the groups present and looking at their information on paper, the combined timeline for the master planning process is best represented by the following (first priority to last):
• Install the President’s Residence• Construct a new academic building to replace Koons Hall
• Remove Koons Hall to make the space available for a potential future building site
• Construct a 50-60 bed capacity residence hall similar to Cianchette or Maplewood
• Construct a new cafeteria/student center in the previous Koons Hall location
• Remove cottages and install demonstration/community garden
• Overhaul the Student Activities Building/repurpose (move CRC/OAC to repurposed building)
• Move maintenance to OAC/CRC building (short term)
• Construct an additional residence hall
• Construct a path to connect the college campus to the town of Unity
• Move Wood Hall residents to new Residence Hall and move Admin. into Wood Hall
• Construct a new Student Center/Student Union with state of the art athletic facilities
• Remove NC/SC/Cafe
• Construct a new residence hall
• Remove EV/WV
• Remove existing maintenance buildings and build a new, smaller maintenance facility at existing maintenance/farm location
The above timeline reflects all five of the group’s timelines. Some smaller items were continually reoccurring in the master planning process however left out on the timeline, so they were plugged into the timeline in an effort to set goals for achieving both small and large scale projects.
As I sit here and look ahead to the future, I would expect to return in the fall of 2008 and see the president’s residence standing tall behind Eastview and Westview. In a year from now, as the ground is broken and a foundation becomes the building blocks of a new academic facility, I will look back and see the many hours spent throughout the last year paying off. As Unity continues to move forward, grow and excel, I strongly believe that the new, revamped campus will help students achieve amazing things. When I graduate in another two years, I look forward to the opportunity to return to the Unity campus and hope that I will continually see growth and improvements that are a result of this Master Plan. At this point, I will continue to give whatever I can in an effort to represent the Unity College student body and look forward to seeing the Unity campus evolve.
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