Georgia Institute of Technology Comprehensive Campus Plan

Atlanta, GA

With significant student growth projected over the next decade, Georgia Tech faced the challenge of expanding its footprint while balancing academic, research and student life priorities with environmental stewardship—all while strengthening its role as an anchor institution and emerging innovation hub in Atlanta’s Midtown neighborhood. The resulting Comprehensive Campus Plan provides a flexible, goal-oriented framework to guide development and capital investments for the next ten years and beyond.

Delivered as a comprehensive report as well as a first-of-its-kind geographic information system (GIS) based “living plan,” the Comprehensive Campus Plan enables staff to test planning scenarios and assess impacts in real time, ensuring long-term adaptability. Key recommendations include densifying the campus core by transforming surface parking into building sites, establishing strategic mobility hubs at the periphery to support a walkable, car-light environment, and developing innovation districts that connect the campus with the surrounding community.

Features

In addition to the final report, the plan was delivered as an interactive GIS tool, empowering Georgia Tech staff to explore planning scenarios, assess impacts instantly and make data-informed decisions that align with evolving campus priorities. This novel approach facilitates informed decision-making, guides capital investments, enables plan adjustments in response to evolving scenarios, and is foundational to plan governance.

Sustainability is embedded at both the building and campus scale. Working with building engineering and consulting firm Introba, the team assessed 140 campus buildings to quantify the energy and emissions reduction potential of deep energy retrofits, while the plan integrates future development with the EcoCommons—a signature stormwater management, recreational and performative landscape—to strengthen resilience, community connection and long-term campus performance.

The plan puts students first, strengthening campus spaces where they can safely gather, socialize and be active. Building on successful existing spaces, it recommends a new student wellness center, student activity hub and welcome/visitor center, along with programmed open spaces. These include transforming the Peters parking deck into Peters Park—a significant placemaking opportunity that supports stormwater infrastructure while opening views to the stadium.

Project Details

Client Name

Georgia Institute of Technology

Square Footage

475 Acres

Program

Comprehensive campus master plan

Services

Campus planning, open space planning, mobility planning, engagement and outreach, GIS tool, space planning

Phase

Completed