UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE PHYSICAL DESIGN FRAMEWORK A Vision for the Physical Environment at the University of California, Irvine PHYSICAL DESIGN FRAMEWORK A Vision for the Physical Environment at the University of California, Irvine January 2010 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS his Physical Design Framework was developed, written, and designed by the UCI Office of Campus and Environmental Planning. We are grateful to Vice Chancellor Wendell Brase for his helpful comments and suggestions. We would also Tlike to acknowledge the Design and Construction Services unit for their contributions to the architectural guidelines contained herein. Office of Campus & Environmental Planning Richard Demerjian, Director Gregory Jue, Associate Director Patricia Bras, Associate Landscape Planner Alex Marks, Associate Planner Mary Dustin, Office Manager Design & Construction Services Rebekah Gladson, Associate Vice Chancellor and Campus Architect Gary Krekemeyer, Director of Campus Operations Robert Fritch, Director of Construction, Inspection, & Quality Assurance Photography Unless noted, and with the exception of historical photographs appearing in Part 1, all photographs in this document are by Gregory Jue. Other contributors include: Hedrich Blessing Andrew Herndon Paul R. Kennedy Julius Shulman A.F. Payne Photographic, Inc. Air Photo Services, Inc. © The Regents of the University of California, 2010. ii UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 1 CAMPUS CONTEXT 7 Physical Setting Planning History Projected Campus Growth Key Design Challenges and Opportunities 2 PLANNING & DESIGN PRINCIPLES 21 Major Principles Fundamental Organizing Concepts 3 PLANNING & DESIGN GUIDELINES 31 Campus Planning Sectors Site Planning Guidelines Architectural Guidelines Landscape Guidelines Circulation Guidelines 4 PLANNING PROCESS 55 APPENDICES (Included on Accompanying CD) 2006 Strategic Academic Plan 2007 Long Range Development Plan Gateway Quad Study Social Sciences Quad Study Engineering/ICS Quad Study Physical Sciences Quad Study Biological Sciences Quad Study Humanities/Arts Quad Study Health Sciences Quad Study East Campus Master Planning Study Green and Gold Plan PHYSICAL DESIGN FRAMEWORK iii iv UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE INTRODUCTION evelopment at the University of California, Irvine, historically has been guided by a strong physical Dplan. Beginning with UCI’s inaugural Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) in 1963, the campus established fundamental planning concepts for developing a comprehensive academic community of teaching and research facilities, residential neighborhoods, community support space, and private sector uses. Subsequent versions of the LRDP—including the most recent update in 2007—refined and did not dramatically depart from the original plan. In 1992, UCI prepared a campus design framework that described its vision for implementing the planning concepts set forth in the LRDP. Specific guidelines provided policy direction for site design and planning, architecture, landscape, circulation, exterior lighting and furnishings, and signage. In addition, based on focused build-out studies of UCI’s academic core, the design framework provided guidance for the planning and location of utility infrastructure. Since 1992, the framework has provided a crucial link between individual projects and the overall campus development plan. The present Physical Design Framework represents an update to the earlier set of guidelines. It describes the planning principles and physical design standards that are applied to new campus development, facility renovation, and ongoing management and operation of campus facilities and grounds to ensure consistency with UCI’s established form and image. The Framework will be utilized at all stages of land planning, project development, and facilities management—including project Pictured left: Memorial to Daniel Aldrich, UCI’s founding chancellor, located programming and budgeting, site and land use allocation in the center of Aldrich Park. With William Pereira, Chancellor Dan was studies, project design, and eventually construction instrumental in establishing UCI’s form and image. document preparation. Pictured above: Plaza linking buildings in the Social Sciences quad. PHYSICAL DESIGN FRAMEWORK 1 Introduction This document is organized into four sections. Part 1 describes the context in which the Physical Design Framework resides, including the physical setting of the UCI campus, planning history, projected growth, and key design challenges and opportunities. Part 2 summarizes the fundamental values and principles that guide development of the campus. Specific planning, architectural, and landscape guidelines that reflect these core values are provided in Part 3. Finally, Part 4 describes the physical planning process that ensures that the Framework is embodied in all new projects developed at UCI. This Framework encompasses physical development on the main campus. Guidelines for planning and design at the UCI Medical Center in Orange are covered in a related document. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER DOCUMENTS This updated Physical Design Framework summarizes the contents of a portfolio of planning documents that guides physical development at UCI and promotes proper stewardship of the campus environment. All of these douments share a common goal of insuring that campus planning and design principles are manifested in the capital projects implemented at UCI and in ongoing management and operations. The illustration at right describes the UCI’s strategic academic plan provides a roadmap for continued academic collection of planning documents employed at UCI. development and guides campus physical planning decisions. ɛ 2006 Academic Strategic Plan: In 2004, the Irvine campus commenced a strategic planning initiative to affirm specific goals for continued academic development, building on the original vision and aspirations that made UCI what it is today. This process led to the publication of a long-term strategic plan in 2006 that describes objectives for the campus through the 2015 horizon year. Physical planning decisions at UCI are guided by and support the academic objectives in the strategic plan. While these objectives remain long-term goals for the campus, the strategic plan presently is being updated to reflect recent budget challenges, particularly in the area of state-supported growth. ɛ 2007 Long Range Development Plan: The 2007 LRDP is a comprehensive policy and land use plan that guides the physical development of the campus through 2025- 26. The plan, designed to support key academic and student life goals, identifies development objectives, delineates campus land uses, and estimates the new building space needed to support projected program 2 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE Introduction Strategic Academic Plan (2006) Long Range Development Plan (2007) Quad Studies East Campus Physical Design Master Planning Study Capital Financial Plan (2010) Framework (2010) Green & Gold Plan Planning Systems Other Studies Figure 1. The portfolio of planning documents that guides physical development at UCI. PHYSICAL DESIGN FRAMEWORK 3 Introduction expansion through the planning horizon year. The UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE2007 LRDP is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and University of California guidelines for implementation of CEQA. The EIR considers possible environmental effects of the plan and prescribes mitigation measures for reducing environmental impacts that could result from UCI’s physical growth. ɛ Quad Studies: Planning studies for the individual academic sectors or “quads” that make up the Academic Core provide more detailed program, site, and design information to advance the development of individual capital improvement projects and to support ongoing operations. Guidelines for each of the seven academic sectors—Gateway Quad, Social Sciences Quad, Engineering/Information and Computer Sciences Quad, Physical Sciences Quad, Biological Sciences Quad, Humanities/Arts Quad, and Health Sciences Quad—are aimed at achieving an individual identity for the respective quads while also producing a 2007 LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN cohesive campus image. The quad studies are intended A Framework to Guide Physical Development at the to ensure that the Academic Core can accommodate University of California, Irvine, Through 2025-2026 projected space needs at the desired intensity and scale. They also provide essential direction for site planning and design, architecture, landscape, and infrastructure UCI’s current LRDP, approved by The Regents in November 2007, provides a foundation for the Physical Design Framework. planning within each quad. ɛ East Campus Master Planning Study: This document, prepared in 1997, provides specific recommendations to guide development on UCI’s East Campus, a 430-acre sector that accommodates a variety of student housing and related uses. The planning study establishes the physical character of the East Campus and analyzes parameters such as residential size and density, site planning, architecture, circulation linkages, open space, and utility infrastructure. The East Campus is one of the largest master planned student residential communities in the U.S. ɛ Green and Gold Plan: For over 20 years, UCI has emphasized sustainable landscape practices, including the use of native and drought tolerant plant materials consistent with campus landscape planning, implementation, and management