Participate in master plan workshops for updates on campus plans

SPOKANE – The community is invited to participate in three master plan workshops in March, April and June for an update of the Riverpoint Campus plan. The planning process, led by WSU, includes representatives of Riverpoint Campus partners Eastern Washington University and Sirti.

Workshop schedule:

Tuesday, March 17, 3-5 p.m., Riverpoint Campus Academic Center Auditorium (Room 20): Presentation of information showing a summary of the recently completed Downtown Spokane Plan, overview of current campus/neighborhood conditions, results of a 2008 space study to accommodate current health/biomedical sciences programs, and conceptual ideas for the buildout of campus to assist in the update of the master plan for the Riverpoint Campus.

Thursday, April 23, 3-5 p.m., Riverpoint Campus Academic Center Auditorium (Room 20): Presentation of draft campus master plan based on community input from March 17 workshop and other information and ideas collected. Attendees will be asked to respond to the draft, with input addressed in the final plan presented at the third workshop.

Wednesday, June 3, 3-5 p.m., Riverpoint Campus Academic Center Auditorium (Room 20):  A final draft of the campus master plan will be presented. The master plan will be completed for publication this summer.

Coming to campus:
Transit: Visitors to campus may use Spokane Transit route #29.
Cyclists: Bike racks are available at all buildings.
Parking: A cash-only “pay and display” lot is available next to the South Campus Facility on the south side of Spokane Falls Blvd; parking is available at meters; or visitors may purchase a pass at the Parking Services office in the South Campus Facility for use in any lot.

Over the past year, the planning and design team has met with units of Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, University of Washington, and Sirti to gather information on program plans that drive capital construction priorities, in particular for the health sciences.

A biomedical and health sciences complex was identified as the top priority to accelerate expansion of health sciences research and teaching programs, which are the campus’s primary focus. A request for funding of pre-design for the first building in the complex is one of WSU’s capital funding priorities in the current legislative session.

The vision for Riverpoint Campus is that it be developed as a pedestrian-friendly urban campus that attracts excellent students and faculty, complements community systems, and interfaces seamlessly with the surrounding neighborhoods. The campus is developing with primary focus on the biomedical and health sciences, particularly graduate, professional and applied research programs.

The update of the master plan is expected to:
• address changes in the area since the 2000 plan was developed, such as construction of the Convention Center expansion, Sirti Technology Center, and Nursing Building, and other plans such as the University District Strategic Master Plan and Downtown Master Plan update; • address vital infrastructure for expansion such as high-speed Internet connections and  multimodal transportation; • incorporate changes envisioned for the future, including the Riverside Avenue extension, Pine Street Development, Spokane Falls Boulevard redesign, and others; • coordinate the campus update with the downtown Spokane plan update including traffic and street revisions, alternative forms of transportation, pedestrian corridors, and other elements; and • incorporate the vision of the integrated academic plan finalized in early 2008.

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