To function successfully over time, a campus plan must contain sufficient flexibility to accommodate unanticipated changes and developments that inevitably will occur. An extensively detailed plan does not provide the level of flexibility and responsiveness necessary to deal with a changing world. However, without a plan that establishes a framework that preserves and enhances the natural, cultural, and aesthetic sense of place within which change can occur, an environment of chaos, discontinuity, sterility, and ugliness ultimately can occur.

The Sesquicentennial Campus Planning Framework update is firmly based in the framework concept, both reinforcing the notion and extending it to be more responsive. Three groups of Planning Principles - General, Land Use, and Circulation - guide the framework.

General
The planning process, properly applied, provides a general guide for future development while allowing flexibility to incorporate unanticipated changes in academic needs and space requirements. A framework approach to planning will allow incremental decisions that are consistent with long-term planning strategy.

Effective planning will provide a rational means to manage change and will allow optimal use of physical and environmental resources.

A campus environment that is convenient, safe, and provides appropriate and desirable surroundings to stimulate the mind, body and spirit in the pursuit of academic excellence is important in attracting talented students, faculty, and staff.

Planning that provides accessibility for all students and fosters independence of mobility will both support existing students, faculty, and staff, and attract a broader base of campus participants.

Planning for future needs in a manner that conforms to desirable natural and cultural characteristics of the existing campus will create visual continuity and distinctive campus identity over time.

Traditional roots and connections with the past can be protected by preservation of buildings and outdoor spaces of historic, cultural, and aesthetic value. The Pentacrest, its surroundings, and the view corridors that frame it, representing the beginnings of the University and campus development, must be preserved and protected.

Just as the Pentacrest represents development of the campus from a historical perspective, so does the Iowa River from a natural environmental point of view. Preserving and enhancing the river, topography, vegetation, and natural aesthetic they create is important to creating and maintaining a "sense of place" that is The University of Iowa.

New campus development, such as academic, housing, parking, etc., are not inherently incompatible and can reasonably coexist if properly designed to minimize conflicts.

Planning for future utility needs and advancements in communications technology is a necessary component in efficient and orderly campus development.

Planning that embraces environmental responsibility and energy conservation is integral to responsible stewardship of all campus resources.

A variety of architectural styles adds visual diversity to the campus. However, diversity turns to chaos unless architectural individuality is in harmony with adjoining structures and in context with the balance of the campus.

Preservation of significant historic and natural features and open space is essential in preserving the campus environment. As a unique natural feature, the Iowa River must be protected and enhanced at every opportunity.

Land Use
Appropriate location of new buildings and land uses can create a unified campus that operates efficiently and is convenient for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors.

By careful planning, land uses dependent upon each other for enhancement of individual benefits, can be located in proximity to each other. Some areas must be reserved adjacent to existing facilities for expansion of those facilities and for new uses dependent upon them. Areas important for preservation of natural and historic values must be reserved.

To accommodate unanticipated changes in academic needs, it is essential that land uses be planned for flexibility to meet future space requirements with minimal disruption.

Compatibility of University development with surrounding neighborhoods can be achieved by carefully evaluating and responding to needs of the University and the neighborhoods.

Certain structures, open spaces, and other campus elements must be preserved because of their intrinsic historical and natural value.

Open space, the space between structures, is in itself an important land use in providing an atmosphere conducive to academic pursuits. Interconnected open spaces can provide "pathways" for safe and efficient pedestrian movement throughout campus. The connected open spaces are an important element in creating an overall campus community and identity by unifying the diverse architectural styles of the campus buildings.

Circulation
A pedestrian-oriented campus can be promoted by minimizing intrusion of vehicles into campus and keeping general vehicular circulation to the campus periphery, recognizing that bus service, emergency, and service vehicle access and access for those with disabilities must be provided.

A pedestrian-orientated campus does not eliminate vehicles, it simply gives priority to pedestrian routes and subordinates vehicle systems. Drop-off areas, loading spaces, or short term parking in specific locations provided within the pedestrian-oriented campus context ensure access and consistent monitoring and enforcement maintains availability.