Defining a Sense of Place: Campus Edition

Creating a sense of belonging is not just a valuable part of the college experience – it’s an essential factor that boosts students’ academic success and enhances their overall well-being. According to MIT Teaching Reports, learners with stronger ties to campus life not only achieve higher GPAs but face fewer challenges during their academic journey. Such statistics, coupled with research on enrollment, retention and satisfaction rates, accentuate the importance of cultivating a sense of place as it fosters an environment where scholars can excel academically, socially and emotionally.

Unique to the characteristics of each university, effective placemaking highlights and celebrates what makes each campus distinctive through thoughtful, intentional planning and design choices. For example, NSU in Davie, Florida, introduced the oceanic-themed ‘Flight Deck,’ a social hub honoring its marine-life roots while providing students with a vibrant space to connect. Similarly, UNC Greensboro is renovating the Jackson Library to intertwine communal and learning spaces with the history, culture and Southern charm of the Greensboro neighborhood. Shaped by social, environmental and regional influences, projects in this context ensure a unified, holistic experience.

As such, when investing in the creation or enhancements of place-based environments, higher-ed decision-makers often find significant value in collaborating with landscape architects to ensure thoughtful and impactful outcomes. Guiding administration on projects priorities, planners and designers focus on the campus experience in tandem with existing infrastructure and lifecycle management practices to provide a vibrant sense of place where every individual can thrive. Outdoor places and amenities that are student-centric, sustainable, inclusive, and tech-ready fuel projects that look and feel authentic, welcoming and deeply connected to the community.

So, while mascot-themed water features and morale-boosting murals help foster campus culture, such installations should be complemented by social-centric areas for the greatest impact. Take Florida International University (FIU), for example. Located in Miami with strong ties to the Cuban community, the University has invested in a new CasaCuba facility. Creating a cultural nexus for students and locals, the campus addition features various courtyards, art installations and buildings that reflect the vibrant colors and rhythmic patterns found throughout the island nation. As a result, the symbolic design provides students and visitors with an opportunity to congregate outdoors to study, network, gather and celebrate, while seamlessly integrating the facility into the existing campus.

Moving in stride with large-scale campus upgrades are institutions like the University of California, Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania, among others, who are investing in modernization, new infrastructure and sustainability practices to further enhance the student experience. Not to mention the latest reports by the National Association of College and University Business Officers, which estimates that colleges and universities are on track to spend approximately $10 billion on new construction this year alone.

But with big plans and large budgets, it’s essential that smaller, meaningful details are not overlooked. Elements like convenient parking, ample green space and well-lit, walkable streetscapes are considered by many to be key differentiators for student comfort and welfare. Additionally, flexible spaces for hybrid learning, strong Wi-Fi and strategically placed charging stations remain indispensable in today’s evolving educational landscape.

Ultimately, the success and longevity of colleges and universities across the globe rely not only on the culture, academics, and atmosphere they have defined for themselves and their students but also on their ability to adapt and innovate in response to an ever-changing world. Through well designed, thoughtful, connected spaces, educational campuses can become a second home, natural respite and strong extension of the community – all grounded in a powerful sense of place.

For more expert insights, along with additional information on our campus planning experience, contact us at [email protected].

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