Cleveland State University || Campus Master Plan || Process

Process

The campus master plan was prepared in collaboration with CSU students, faculty, and staff, as well as city officials and neighborhood stakeholders.

The Urban Design Center of Northeast Ohio (UDC) collaborated with the Columbus-based landscape architecture firm of Meyers Schmalenberger, Inc. (MSI) and Robert Simons of the Levin College of Urban Affairs to prepare the campus master plan. The process included an analysis of the University’s needs and opportunities and the preparation of alternative design concepts which were ultimately refined into the recommended approach. The process also included a market study which was conducted in the early stages of the process to gauge demand for additional housing, retail businesses, daycare, and other kinds of development in and near campus. Current faculty, staff, and students participated in the market study.

The CSU community was further involved in the preparation of the plan at several levels:

A Master Plan Steering Committee, with representatives including students, faculty, staff, elected officials, key off-campus property owners, and staff members from adjacent community development corporations directed the process.
University and community representatives and the Deans of each college within CSU were interviewed to identify campus concerns and development needs.
The entire CSU community was invited to provide guidance and input in the early stages of the plan through a general campus-wide survey of faculty, staff, and students.
A series of public meetings were conducted to collect information about existing conditions and to get input into plan alternatives.
A Master Plan Forum was established on the CSU web site, where the CSU community was invited to comment on the plan, provide suggestions, and raise concerns throughout the planning process.

A first draft of the plan concepts were discussed with the City of Cleveland’s Design Review Committee and City Planning Commission on a preliminary basis. The plan was also reviewed at this stage by the University’s Board of Trustees. Final approval and adoption of the plan by the University and the City will be the last stage of the planning process prior to implementation.