The University of Utah Physical Development Plan

Salt Lake City, UT

The University of Utah’s Physical Development Plan (UPDP) is the physical embodiment of the U’s Impact 2030 strategy and student-centered vision for College Town Magic. In response to the university’s ambitious growth target, the plan provides a framework for prioritizing capital investments in academics and research, healthcare, student housing and student life, athletics, and infrastructure for its over 1,500-acre Salt Lake City campus located at the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains.

NBBJ led a 14-month planning process grounded in deep and inclusive engagement with campus leadership, students, faculty, staff and neighbors. The resulting plan provides a campus-wide framework for decisions about where to locate future facilities and programs and offers a campus-wide frame of reference for the University’s capital plan, supported by a geographic information system (GIS) based “living plan” tool. The UPDP informs approaches to enhancing areas such as student life, campus living and outdoor experiences, campus development and infrastructure improvements, athletics, and student and faculty well-being.

Features

The planning process included extensive engagement across the campus community. The engagement took on many forms and included design charrettes, open houses, leadership workshops, a dedicated project engagement website (with online surveys, idea wall, and mapping exercises) and outreach to neighbors and external partners —ensuring the plan reflects diverse perspectives and fosters a sense of shared ownership.

The plan creates best-in-class student experience with infrastructure and facilities that promote a complete community and vibrant campus living. An inclusive range of strategies address the student experience through improvements to the academic and research environments, high-quality placemaking, enhanced student life amenities, on campus housing, integrated accessibility and mobility, and landscapes that leverage the university’s unique location.

Project Details

Client Name

University of Utah

Square Footage

1,550 Acres

Program

Comprehensive campus master plan

Services

Campus planning, community engagement, urban design and planning, campus landscape and open space strategy, site selection and evaluation, GIS planning tool, project engagement website, mobility, space planning

Phase

Complete