The Plan

Freight Depot Farrago

NDSU Campus Urbanization

Academical Village

The Big Idea

Final-er NDSU Downtown Campus Urbanization

Final-er Academic Village

Final-er Freight Farrago

Bringing it all together

Deadline tomorrow 9 am. wish me luck! ....please

Th Freight Farrago

Here are a couple snap shots of the proposed Freight Farrago Market

The Academical Village

Here are a few snapshots of a concept for the academical village

Work Continues

I am continuing to develop a concept for the NDSU Downtown Urbanization. Here is a quick update.

Perry C Hansen Lecture Hall

As part of the NDSU Downtown Campus urbanization plan a lecture hall has been designed and dedicated to the yet-to-be rich alumni Perry Hansen. The facility has a large lecture auditorium, class space, study areas, and lobby.

Above is an exploded diagram showing the components of the Freight Depot Farrago. Development of the underground parking is underway as well as some basic concepts of the Market floor and boardwalk.
This is a birds eye view looking across the Market Commons. The boardwalk will be handicap accessible and will be a place for people to sit on the steps and soak up the sun while enjoying a coffee, beer, icec ream, or a meal.

Its Time to Parti

*The Image describes some initial concepts of how of the neighborhoods development. The NDSU Campus Urbanization shows how the site could be developed to maximize its street presents and create a defined central commons space reflective of many of the great urban universities around North America. This plan will be developed to serve the 4000+ students (the goal of the NDSU downtown master plan ) with class space, physical and mental wellness facilities, Student Union, and dining services. Plans will soon emerge of how underground parking could be integrated in the site to supply the parking needs of the faculty and staff. One thing that needs addressing is how the campus buildings relate to the the housing to the north to avoid unsettling juxtaposition and sun access.

The academic village studies how urban housing would affect the neighborhood. The primary problem with the current massing is the availability of natural light throughout the spaces. Parking will also be a major consideration of how this site is developed. It has come to my attention that a realignment in one ways may need to be undertaken to confront safety concerns caused by an increase in traffic due to the areas development.




The image above is a study of the pedestrian commons that may be created on the NDSU Downtown Campus. With proper planning this area could become similar to mall developed on the Concordia University campus.

Concerning a Bus Shelter

*above is a map showing the downtown bus routes

Things to Consider (running list)

1.) Materials : Wood, glass, stone, steel
2.) Lighting
3.) Seating
4.) Information Board
5.) Heating

Concerning an Urbanized Campus

*The Image above depicts the proposed site at top and three examples of Urban Campuses that may provided inspiration in the development of the site.

Things to consider (Running List)

1.) Central Court (Lighting, seatings, walkways, etc.)
2.) Wellness Center
3.) Student Union
4.) Additional Class Space
5.) Branch Library
6.) Food Services
7.) Parking
8.) Bus Stop

Concerning the Freight Depot Farrago

*above is an image depicting the proposed site at top and Three examples of existing plazas providing inspiration of how this space may be developed. (Running List)

Things to be investigated and proposed
1.) Light
2.) Paving material / pattern
3.) Planing material
4.) Public Steps / Boardwalk
5.) Parking for customers and Academic villagers
6.) Book Store
7.) Grocery Market
8.) Farmers Market
9.) Adult Hostel
10.) Rewindowing / Redooring
11.) Art Studio
12.) Coffee House
13.) Sushi House
14.) Micro Brew House
15.) Public Restrooms
16.) Restaurant
17.) Craftperson shop
18.) Dance Studio
19.) Public Seating
20.) Performing Space
21.) Ice Cream Parlor

Concerning the Academical Village

*Above is an image depicting the proposed site at top and 3 other neighborhoods providing inspiration of how this site may be developed.

Some thoughts regarding the academical village:

“No one more sincerely wishes the spread of information among mankind than I do, and none has greater confidence in its effect towards supporting free and good government. I, am sincerely rejoiced, therefore, to find that so excellent a fund has been provided for this noble purpose in Tennessee.... I consider the common plan [for colleges] followed in this country, but not in others, of making one large and expensive building, as unfortunately erroneous. It is infinitely better to erect a small and separate lodge for each professorship, with only a hall below for his class and two chambers above for himself; joining these lodges by barracks for a certain portion of the students, opening into a covered way to give a dry communication between all the schools. The whole of these arranged around an open square of grass and trees would make it what it should be in fact, an academical village.... Much observation and reflection on these institutions have long convinced me that the large and crowded buildings in which youths are pent up are equally unfriendly to health, to study, to manners, morals, and order.”

^{~Thomas Jefferson}

Quote Found a www.nps.org

A country whose buildings are of wood, can never increase in its improvements to any considerable degree. Their duration is highly estimated at 50 years. Every half century then our country becomes a tabula rasa, whereon we have to set out anew, as in the first moment of seating it. Whereas when buildings are of durable materials, every new edifice is an actual and permanent acquisition to the state, adding to its value as well as to its ornament.

~Thomas Jefferson
Quote Found at faculty.virginia.edu

Things Considered in this Project (Running List)

1. 30-40 faculty Housing (walk-up units)

2. Central Public Court

3. Corner Shops

4. Private Garden

5. Parking

6. Walkways

7. Lighting

8. Building Materials

Developing the site

The site has begun development. I first established broad generalization of how each area will be used as described in the top image. From there a more specific program is being developed to make this area an 'Academic Village' where faculty students can live, work, study, shop, and play within this well defined district.

Infill Project - NDSU Downtown Campus Urbanization

*picture above is example of similar project not produced by students of NDSU Arch 771

NDSU has invested millions in developing a downtown campus that is quickly becoming the new face of the university. Land mismanagement threatens future growth and the campus’s ability to fulfill the needs of the students and faculty. This project will look at what services the Downtown Campus could provide and describe how a phased master plan can be implemented for future facilities and services.