Campus Masterplan

UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING CAMPUS MASTERPLAN A CHANGING PERSPECTIVE FOREWORD EDUCATION FOUNDED ON INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE The University of Stirling Campus Within Higher Education, there is the student experience. The Masterplan 2012 provides a recognition of the important role University embarked on a major a campus can play as a place of campus planning initiative, which is compelling strategic vision, learning and as an asset to the the most comprehensive since the central to the University’s ethos wider community. Located within the original Masterplan of 1968. of innovation, excellence and historic Airthrey Estate, the University of Stirling’s campus includes an Not all of the ideas will come to commitment to serving the needs 18th-century castle, Hermitage Wood, fruition, but the plan will act as a of society. a central loch, a golf course and a blueprint for new creative ideas 50-metre swimming pool. and solutions over the next ten The 330-acre campus, set beneath years and beyond. It demonstrates the Ochil Hills, has become that growth over the next decades accustomed to receiving accolades: can be accommodated in a way it is described as ‘most picturesque’, that results in enhanced facilities ‘a place of idyllic beauty’, ‘an and infrastructure. It ties the exceptional place to study and work’. campus together, re-invigorates the landscape, improves the The University of Stirling is environment, and integrates learning, committed to providing a high- research, social, sporting and quality environment that nurtures community space. The University’s life-enhancing student and staff vision and future commitment experiences. In 2011 the University to this plan will foster a positive needed to determine how future transformation. development could be accommodated within the context of a new Strategic The plan will ensure that the Plan, whilst preserving the natural campus remains one of our most Kerry Bryson beauty of the campus and improving precious assets. Director of Development & External Affairs 2 / UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING CAMPUS MASTERPLAN CONTENTS Loch Park at the heart 18 Pathfoot 52 Path network and connections 66 The focus Existing Existing Introduction 4 Activating the focus Improvements Improvements Growth Growth The 1968 Plan 6 Neighbourhoods and Campus Hub in a parkland setting The heart 8 Entrance and arrival 24 The 1968 vision Approach, arrival and entrance Residential accommodation 56 Landscape management 70 Campus Hub Existing Existing Campus neighbourhoods 10 Queen’s Court – Campus Green Improvements Improvements The 1968 vision Traffic and parking Growth Future The origins of the landscape setting Other projects 74 2012 Masterplan: core themes 14 Growth – further flexibility Establishing the landscape heart Defining the entrance Sustainability 76 Improvement and growth Cottrell 44 Airthrey Castle 60 Existing Existing Existing Improvements 2012 Masterplan: key projects 16 Improvements Improvements Growth Growth Growth Wider setting Accessibility 80 Reasonableness Summary statement 82 Sport 48 Lower Pathfoot 64 Existing Growth Improvements Growth Kerry Bryson Director of Development & External Affairs UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING CAMPUS MASTERPLAN / 3 CAMPUS MASTERPLAN 2012 INTRODUCTION A masterplan provides an accommodation, are taken forward opportunities in three main areas: overall strategic vision for in the context of an overall vision the long-term development - Further development and growth - The development of a new Local of the campus of an estate, based on an Development Plan for Stirling, as organisation’s strategic needs part of Scotland’s overall planning - The improvement of some current and aspirations. It provides a framework, and the need to arrangements consider the University’s estate framework for development, planning in the context of the wider - Evolutionary change made possible including guiding principles and neighbourhood and community by the fact that the use of the values. campus has matured over Architects Page\Park were under 40+ years. no illusion about the challenge that A number of factors determine the this presented, given the exceptional This document considers the history timing for this new Masterplan: piece of estate planning undertaken that forms the foundation for further by John Richards in 1968, which planning and then examines ten - The need for a long-term vision brilliantly integrated the University project areas from the position of for the estate that complements into the stunning landscape setting the three opportunities identified and supports the new Strategic of the historic Airthrey Estate. This above. It also considers sustainability Plan published in 2012 and the early planning was a key factor in and accessibility – two matters that objectives set out within it the campus being designated as one are central to everything that the of the most attractive in Europe and University does. - The need to ensure that for its nomination as one of the top development projects under heritage sites of the 20th century. Karen Plouviez consideration, including the Page\Park did not fail us and have Director of Estates & Campus Services redevelopment of a significant produced an exciting vision for the proportion of the student next 10 to 15 years that provides 4 / UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING CAMPUS MASTERPLAN N W E S THE 1968 PLAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AND CAMPUS HUB IN A PARKLAND SETTING The original 1968 plan was Both the original Masterplan which was, and still is, a great asset 3. Strengthening the existing Campus documentation and the University of for the University: the loch. Hub, or ‘town centre’, establishing drawn up with key qualities Stirling Campus Conservation Plan a clear sense of arrival at the and aspirations in mind and (2009) by Simpson & Brown Architects The approach to this current centre of the campus, and also these have informed the contributed to the thinking. Masterplan is centred around four incorporating core social and key issues: amenity functions in the Atrium creation of the new Masterplan. The original 1968 Masterplan had and Queen’s Court. outlined a compact and continuous 1. Defining and strengthening the In 2012, an important starting point campus with buildings that were loch, the original central ‘heart’ of 4. Resolving inconsistencies in the was to fully understand the origins physically connected within the campus, as an active amenity. landscape, promoting the clarity and design ethos of the 1968 plan. contrasting environments. It also of the original parkland as a Only then could the University identified the significance of the 2. Reinforcing the original and University setting and achieving respond and build a cohesive and central defining landscape feature individual campus ‘neighbourhoods’ continuity of management. thoughtful direction for the future as zones around the ‘heart’, each development of the campus. with different characters and qualities, but effectively linked. 6 / UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING CAMPUS MASTERPLAN 1968 MASTERPLAN THE HEART THE 1968 VISION John Richards, the original Extracts from the 1994 Interim The Development Plan proposed that When the Castle was extended at Development Plan are provided the University should develop around the end of the last century, groups of campus architect, had a clear in the following pages, which the loch. The loch was the most conifers were added to the original vision for the campus: the loch clearly describe the key important element in the natural classical landscape. The loch, with its was to be its central, defining qualities and design intent of formation of the site; its influence on islands, was central to the landscape characteristic. He firmly the original plan: ground form, views, vegetation and within the Estate’s walls. The greater natural drainage was felt across the part of the site rose from the shores believed that this enviable entire Estate. of the loch in an irregular bowl. feature should play a key role From the upper part of these slopes in influencing the design of The site was outstandingly attractive there were clear views across the in landscape terms. It is extended loch to the opposite shores and the the campus as a whole. to some 300 acres (some 120ha) of backdrop of the surrounding hills. mature parkland and a further 63 Elsewhere the detailed ground forms acres (25ha) of adjacent woodland. and planting had been arranged Airthrey Castle was built in 1791 to with subtlety to give views of varying a design by Robert Adam and the openness. Estate had been landscaped early in the 19th century. UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING INTERIM DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1994 The grounds contain a large artificial (JOHN RICHARDS ASSOCIATES, IAN WHITE loch curving around two small hills ASSOCIATES, JMP CONSULTANTS LTD) in the centre, carefully arranged ground slopes, shelter belts and clusters of trees. 8 / UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING CAMPUS MASTERPLAN N W E S 1968 MASTERPLAN CAMPUS NEIGHBOURHOODS THE 1968 VISION The Development Plan proposed residential accommodation for the Subsequently, these routes were With the loch identified as the that the main teaching and research 3,000 FTE (full-time equivalent) planned, like the main routes central feature, the functional areas would be planned as a population (2,000 students in within the teaching building, to areas of the campus (the compact and interconnected group residence) along the north shore of run at a single constant level, residences, the bridge across the on an area of moderate slope to the loch, with further provision to bridging the

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