September1995

The Station Master Plan
"Change is Inevitable . . . Progress is Not"

by Linda McCandless

Geneva, NY - Over 150 Station employees were present at the unveiling of the 21st century on Thursday, September 21, 1995, when the new Master Plan for the Experiment Station was presented.

"The last Master Plan for the Station was done in the late 1960s," said Assistant to the Director Pat Krauss, who has chaired the Master Plan committee since 1990 when it was appointed by then new director Jim Hunter. "All aspects of that plan have been implemented or addressed, so the time was ideal for a new plan to be developed."

The plan speaks to a strong future for research in molecular biology and plant breeding at the Station, expanding laboratories and greenhouse space, enhancing all telecommunication facilities, providing a public/private research zone, and addressing the need for a visitor center to enhance Station outreach and public support.

The plan:

• Provides a pedestrian spine for the campus that integrates buildings around quadrangles, or green spaces, reducing through-traffic.
• Establishes an entry presence for the campus on North Street, in front of Jordan and Hedrick halls.
• Earmarks 5 to 10 acres south of the Station for a public/private research park, extending from Castle Creek to Happiness House on Pre-Emption Road.
• Builds a 55,000 plant health lab adjoining Barton Lab where resources in molecular biology, electron microscopy, and DNA sequencing will be shared along with a monoclonal lab, central radioisotopes, tissue culture labs, a gene gun and DCR lab.
• Reintegrates important historical buildings back into the mainstream of campus life. This includes restoring the Dairy Barn which was built in 1904 and using it for Station functions, and reclaiming a renovated Parrott Hall from the state for use by administration, IPM, and other state associations.
• Promotes the development of a visitor center on the first floor of Jordan Hall that will encourage public outreach and enhance the public's understanding of the Station's contributions to New York State food and agriculture.
• Provides for transmission links for voice, data and full-speed video, including a distance-learning facility that will enable researchers to communicate with their colleagues, teach undergraduate and graduate students in Ithaca, and interact with the rest of the world.
• Provides complete computerized mapping of the Station's 11 farms.

In 1990, the Master Plan committee was charged with developing a plan for the Station's physical facilities that was both visionary and practical, a plan that balanced the needs of the entire Station community with future programs, that would be a blueprint for the future.

The master plan committee consisted of research department chairmen, leaders of the principal service units: buildings and properties, library, computer center, communications services, and greenhouse and grounds. The group met regularly for about two years at which point members determined the Station needed assistance from a professional planning firm. Former CALS Dean David L. Call made the request which was granted by the State University of New York Construction Fund to the sum of $170,000. Saratoga Associates was appointed as architects and Thomas Associates as the engineers. Starting in January 1995, individuals from these firms came to Geneva on a regular basis, meeting with the Master Plan Committee and many other staff, faculty, and students.

"The development of the Master Plan was a symbiotic process," said Krauss. "It required the cooperation of all the members of the committee, The Saratoga Associates, and the SUNY Construction Fund. What we have now is one of the best master plans in the entire SUNY system."

The final report is divided into near-term (1-5 years), mid-term (5-10 years), and long-term (2010+) implementation stages.

Michael Rudden, principal at Saratoga, pointed out that three criteria for a successful Master Plan included: 1) the communication of a "shared vision"; 2) the provision of "a planning tool" that did not "mortgage our future"; and 3) an "acceptance process" that included everyone.

Other issues that were addressed include:

• Short- and long-term housing: The Station owns 12 houses. In the new plan, no new housing is proposed, but the former director's house (currently housing IPM) will be renovated for short-term visitors. IPM will move to a renovated Parrott Hall which will also provide a more central, integral location for administration.
• The Library: The library will continue to offer decentralized satellite locations in individual departments but the main facility, which will probably become more and more of a computerized learning center, will move to the third floor of Jordan Hall.
• Communications Services: The print shop will expand to do more regional printing. CS will also provide the support for the visitor center. It will continue to operate out of both Jordan Hall and Barton Lab.
• Social, Recreational & Food Facilities: Expanded facilities and services are desired. The former FTA building has been earmarked for recreational use.
• Traffic and Parking: A campus loop road is proposed for the south end of campus that will link Pre-Emption Road and Castle Street, including a large parking lot, bermed from view, on the east side of campus.

Chris Marcella, of the SUNY Construction Fund, is responsible for submitting SUNY construction plans for funding. "The State's priorities are clear," he said. "Projects for health and safety purposes, and/or preservation of existing buildings are the highest priority. New construction is the lowest priority." He did not put a price tag on the plan, but did note that certain projects - like renovation of the steam plant - were already underway. He also noted that it was extremely important to have a plan in hand and be in position to ask for funding as soon as the New York budget situation eases. "Geneva is in a good position," he said, "because it is one of the oldest campuses in the SUNY system." He also praised Dave Lasher and Buildings and Properties for keeping the facilities in excellent repair.

Marcella, Rudden, and Hunter also complimented Pat Krauss for his chairmanship of the committee. "He did an outstanding job," said Rudden. Because of the complexity of the research programs at the Experiment Station and the level of research being conducted here, he admitted the "learning curve" for this project was very steep, compared to the other 50 master plans his firm has been involved with. He praised the committee for its enthusiasm and dedication to the project. Saratoga Associates has also been chosen to do the Master Plan for the City of Geneva.

When the last Master Plan for the Station was completed in 1962, there were 70 faculty and 4 graduate students at Geneva. In 1995, the Station has 48 faculty, 90 graduate students, and between 10 and 20 post-doctorates. Faculty and staff number 330, swelling to 425 in the summer. The most recent research facility constructed on Station grounds was Barton Lab, built in 1968.

Contact: Linda McCandless, Communications Services

Telephone: (315) 787-2417

e-mail:llm3@cornell.edu

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Page created September 17, 1996 by Cathy Weeden