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Sustainable Smart Campus Master Plan rendering of buildings and green spaces at Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University Comprehensive Sustainable Smart Campus Master Plan

Planning For a Smart and Sustainable Campus Future, Today

Project Location

Flagstaff, AZ

Client

Northern Arizona University

Area

6,800,000 SF, 600+ Acres, 100+ Buildings

Services

Planning, Sustainability Planning

Northern Arizona University, commonly referred to as NAU, aims to create a dynamic and inclusive environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive in a “Smart Campus” setting. Covering the Flagstaff campus and NAU鈥檚 statewide properties, the project emphasizes a comprehensive development framework for land use, facility development, open space, and circulation. The aspiration of the comprehensive Smart Campus Master Plan is to drive new efficiencies, optimize existing spaces, and promote sustainability while aligning with NAU’s strategic vision and mission to serve students and communities from all backgrounds. Our team鈥檚 master plan implements these goals by integrating equitable placemaking strategies, creating a vibrant campus that serves the diverse NAU community. To deeply understand the campus community and its stakeholders, we conducted in-depth engagement workshops that align with our ethos of participatory planning. These workshops invited the campus community to level-set existing conditions and past planning, define a collective vision, and collectively establish the goals and drivers of the plan.

Sustainability is a core focus of the plan. By incorporating key elements from NAU鈥檚 Climate Action Plan a sustainable roadmap for the University鈥檚 future is outlined, with initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and enhance the University鈥檚 climate responsiveness by aligning building renewal strategies with utility and energy reduction planning through a Total Cost of Ownership lens. Additionally, the plan focuses on resource optimization and addresses post-pandemic space needs by updating space planning metrics for teaching, learning, and research spaces that create more efficient and well-utilized space.

Roadmap for the Future

NAU鈥檚 Sustainable Smart Campus Master Plan is a visionary roadmap for development that sets forth the pathway for change that will transform their campus environment across the state of Arizona over the next decade and beyond. A key aspect of the Plan is the integration of a unique and distinctive landscape strategy, a comprehensive sustainability framework, forward-thinking infrastructure, and a comprehensive multi-modal circulation strategy. Together, these components ensure an enhanced and consistent experience across the campus.



01
Connected Campus

Capitalizing on Technology

NAU is pushing the boundaries of creating a frictionless campus environment. In partnership with Information and Technology Services, the Plan incorporates smart technology solutions across the physical campus. Smart campus elements like smart sidewalks, signage, learning environments, and automated building systems will enhance safety, productivity, and energy management. Robotic autonomous devices and smart warehouses will improve campus operations. The Plan features a custom, open-source planning tool developed by our in-house Design Technology team. The tool enables informed decision-making, scenario planning capabilities, and effective management of resources, emphasizing the 鈥淪mart Campus鈥 capacity of the Plan.

Rendering of a college campus showing a walkway between multistory buildings
02
Equitable Placemaking

Creating a Sense of Place

The campus serves populations today that are different from who it was designed for. Today and in the future, NAU students, faculty, and staff will continue to evolve, and the Plan must consider changes to the physical environment that celebrates and represents them and the larger campus community. NAU aims to 鈥渂ecome the leading university serving Indigenous Peoples鈥 by supporting Indigenous students, faculty, and staff, offering culturally responsive educational opportunities, and building relationships with Indigenous communities. A Tribal Sovereignty Path will connect the north and south campuses, showcasing native vegetation, cultural displays, and a walk of nations, fostering appreciation for Indigenous cultures and values.

Rendering of a college campus showing a large building in the distance with metal roof and accents
03
Student-Life

Prioritizing Student-Centeredness

To address the demand for affordable student housing, the Plan outlines a strategy to add 1,000 beds. On the south-end of the long, narrow campus, the addition of student-focused facilities, such as wellness, fitness, dining and lounge spaces will meet the needs of south campus residents. A new student pavilion on north campus will offer flexible spaces for clubs, studying, and relaxation, fostering a sense of community and an activated open space connecting the student union and the library.

Rendering of a college campus showing a multistory building on the corner of an intersection with a large pillar with letters NAU

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