The UBC Okanagan Campus Plan (2015)

The UBC Okanagan Campus Plan sets out a vision for the physical development of the campus and provides a long-term planning framework to manage future campus growth to support the University’s strategic plan and academic mission.

Description

The UBC Okanagan Campus Plan (The Campus Plan) was approved by the Board of Governors in September 2015. Building on the foundations of the 2005 and 2009 Master Plans, The Campus Plan is the result of a comprehensive technical and public consultation process that began in 2013. The planning process was led by Finance and Operations staff with involvement from a broad range of staff, technical specialists, and campus and community stakeholders. It provides a long-term planning framework for existing and future academic and research activities, student housing, and associated campus services and infrastructure for the next 20 years.

A complete copy of The Campus Plan, individual PDFs of the Plan’s chapters, and the Illustrative Campus Plan are available below:

Public Consultation

The public consultation process was essential to ensuring that The UBC Okanagan Campus Plan successfully supports the development of a healthy and vibrant live-work-learn community on campus. Public consultation occurred between October 2013 and March 2015, with two comprehensive public consultation phases that included opportunities for input for the campus community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as the surrounding community. These phases were supplemented by workshops/charrettes, individual stakeholder consultation, and aboriginal outreach.

Stakeholder and public consultation included:

Public Consultation Phase 1

Public Consultation Phase 1 was held in fall 2013 to introduceUBC’s Okanagan Campus Plan processto the campus community and to receive public input on the issues to be addressed by the plan. This phase included a public information session and online consultation.

The consultation summary of feedback received in this phase is available below:

Phase 1 Public Consultation Summary Report
Appendix I (Public Information Session Display Boards)
Appendix II (Feedback Questionnaire)
Appendix IV (Verbatim Feedback Received and Stakeholder Letters)
Appendix V (Petition to Build a Bike Path Along the North Side of Robert Lake)

A transportation workshop with stakeholders and technical specialists was held in spring 2014 to assess campus transportation issues and opportunities.

A growth and experience design charrette was held with UBC staff, student representatives, stakeholders, and technical specialists in summer 2014. These sessions built on input from the Public Consultation Phase 1 and the transportation workshop, and led to the preparation of draft Campus Plan emerging directions.

The summary of the design charrette results is available here: UBC Okanagan Master Plan Growth and Campus Experience Charrette Summary

Targeted stakeholder consultation to confirm and refine the draft Campus Plan emerging directions was conducted in October through November 2014, and involved UBC staff, students, Deans, Okanagan Senate, UBC Properties Trust, BC Transit, and the City of Kelowna.

Public Consultation Phase 2

Public Consultation Phase 2 was held to present the draft Campus Plan for feedback at an open house; to identify ways to shape different places and activities on campus through an ideas fair; and to discuss the programming of places on campus in a public workshop format. Events took place in January and February 2015.

The consultation summary of feedback received in this phase is available below:

Phase 2 Public Consultation Summary Report
Appendix I (Stakeholder Notification List)
Appendix II (Questionnaire Feedback)
Appendix III (Ideas Fair Comments)
Appendix IV (Workshop Notes)
Appendix V (Public Open House Display Boards)
Appendix VI (Questionnaire)
Appendix VII (First Nation Consultation Notes)
Appendix VIII (Aboriginal Education Council Meeting Notes)

Refer to Phase 2 Public Consultation Summary Report and Appendices VII and VIII above.

Aboriginal Outreach was held in March 2015 and included a presentation of the draft Campus Plan to students, faculty and staff from the campus Aboriginal community. Staff also presented to the Okanagan Campus Aboriginal Education Council.

Overall, the campus community expressed a broad level of support for the draft Campus Plan along with many ideas on the types of activities and experiences people would like to have on campus. Feedback received from both the public and stakeholders largely focused on:

The provision of safer and more accessible bike routes; safer, and better-lit and maintained pathways and trail systems; as well as high quality amenities such as recreational facilities (in particular, a swimming pool) as well as informal gathering places.
The support of University Way as the main street of campus, the pedestrianization of the campus core, and the distribution of residential areas across campus.
The need for a stronger visual presence of the Okanagan Territory on campus, and to continue to build a relationship and to identify ways to incorporate aboriginal interests as part of the plan implementation.
The need for ongoing engagement in decision making.

The City of Kelowna was consulted throughout the Campus Plan process to review proposed land use, transportation, and infrastructure issues.The City is supportive of the campus growth described in the Plan, and Campus Planning and Development staff will continue to work with the City to implement the Plan.

Next Steps

In support of the successful implementation of The Campus Plan, subsequent plans and policies will be developed by UBC Campus Planning and Development in collaboration with other UBC Departments and reported to the Board of Governors, including a:

Whole Systems Approach to Infrastructure comprised of a 30-year roadmap, performance metrics, and five-year implementation plan, to guide future planning, investment, and management in a manner that will support sustainable development.
Design Guidelines Update to ensure consistency with the Vision and general planning and design directions in The Campus Plan.
Transportation Plan to promote sustainable transportation options for the University community.
Public Realm Funding Strategy and Implementation Plan to ensure the University’s public realm plays a strong role in strengthening the University’s identity and supporting campus academic and social activities.
Innovation/Research Precinct Plan to define the land uses and development pattern in support of a future hub of academic research and innovation north of Parking Lot H.