by Xochitl Campos
Daily Lobo
Planning campus development now will save UNM from having to make major changes in the future, a visiting professor said.
"Planning is about projecting into the future while simultaneously addressing the problems of the present," said Brian Kelly, a professor at the University of Maryland. "It is about thinking through the ramifications of what we do today and how it impacts the future."
Professors and design professionals from around the U.S. collaborated with UNM students as part of a workshop to make recommendations on the architectural future of UNM campus.
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President Schmidly requested the recommendations be made to update the current plan.
The workshop started Sunday and ended Wednesday afternoon with a presentation in George Pearl Hall.
The campus plan has not been updated since 1997.
"Part of the intention was to help the University understand what its future opportunities and options might be for the campus development," said Roger Schluntz, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning.
Among the topics discussed at the workshop were the future of student housing, parking and balancing aesthetics with accessibility.
Professor Ric Richardson said 25 architecture students have spent the semester preparing for the workshop.
"The out-of-town team built on what the students had given them," he said. "They gave an extraordinary briefing."
Working with design professionals gave students valuable experience, student Brandon Garrett said.
"It was a real opportunity to work with all of these really talented people and to present our work to the administration and the public," he said.
The University's architectural future affects more than just the campus community, Schluntz said. So, the workshop also addressed the future of UNM's surrounding area, he said.
Kelly said if the University doesn't plan well, fixing a small problem may only create larger ones.
"Think carefully about when you narrow a problem down to a very narrow level - you might be creating more problems for yourself in the future," he said.
Kelly said careful planning can protect the environment and preserve resources.
"It is not just about addressing the problems of the present or the future," he said. "It is a serious enterprise that is all about sustainability. If you believe in sustainability, you have to endorse the planning, and you have to plan."
Student John Dillander, who worked on the project, said the planning that goes into a university makes students more comfortable in the environment.
"Good planning overall will make a stronger campus," he said. "People always say we have this Southwestern style, and the campus kind of reflects that. But without proper planning, this will be lost."
