Examining the character and capacity of MU's "central campus "

MU's "central campus ," generally framed by Elm Street on the north and Rollins Street on the south, is the focus of an urban design study. Photo courtesy of Publications & Alumni Communication

MU’s “central campus” is generally defined as that part of the campus between Elm Street on the north and Rollins Street on the south. The area includes the original Red and White campuses built through the 1930s, undergraduate instruction facilities, the university’s major common facilities, e.g. Jesse Hall, Brady Commons, Memorial Union and Ellis Library, and other spaces and buildings since developed that serve the university’s expanding core academic programs.

Sustaining MU's flagship campus character

This area is the subject of a focused urban design study intended to both confirm the central campus’ capacity to accommodate future academic facilities, and ensure that future development is consistent with the established character of this most-iconic-and memorable part of Mizzou. The need to confirm future central campus capacity is essential in sustaining Mizzou’s role as a dynamic and enduring flagship campus. The urban design study defines potential building areas that can be achieved by renovations and expansion of existing buildings and by redevelopment of currently underutilized sites in the area.

The study’s principal goal is to position future buildings to frame and animate the pedestrian open-space environment in much the same way as Francis Quadrangle and Carnahan Quadrangle are handsomely framed by architecture. Recognizing that 21st century buildings are typically larger than most buildings in this historic campus area, it is important to ensure that future buildings are compatible in scale with surrounding building and spaces. Maintaining a compact campus where academic and community interaction is strengthened by proximity is critical.

Defining edges and corridors

To further these principles, priority investigations to date look at how to 1) complete the architectural edges of Carnahan Quad on the west side of the Arvarh Strickland Building and south of Rollins Street; 2) define the future edges and landscape character of Kuhlman Court and 3) enhance the clarity of the pedestrian corridor between Kuhlman Court and the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center. During the course of this year, the central campus urban design study will expand to include future building sites as far north as Elm Street, addressing those sites in the context of the open spaces they are intended to define.