Comprehensive Master Plan Recognized for Design

Cornell’s Comprehensive Master Plan was recognized for its successful design at the 2008 Design Exchange Awards, earning the Award of Excellence in urban design. The plan — passed by the Board of Trustees in March — paves the way for future development of the University’s Ithaca campus over the next 10 to 25 years.
Canadian Business magazine, which sponsored the award, recognized the CMP for its accessibility, aesthetics, function, profitability, innovation and sustainability.
“Cornell’s Comprehensive Master Plan was driven by academic priorities to provide guidelines for future decisions about locating research, teaching, residential and recreational facilities on the Ithaca campus,” Stephen T. Golding, executive vice president for finance and administration, told the University. “The plan will support Cornell’s goals as it guides campus development over the next quarter century.”
Development of the CMP began in April 2006 and was unveiled the the community in February 2007. The plan reflects the joint effort of Cornell and a consulting team led by Urban Strategies, Inc., a Toronto-based urban design firm. According to The Sun, the team relied on feedback from over 400 students, faculty, administrators and neighbors to determine what aspects of campus design would most benefit from change.
According to the University, Cyndi Rottenberg-Walker, a partner at Urban Strategies, described how the CMP reflects the University’s style and design. “Cornell University enjoys a spectacular setting and rich legacy of design excellence,” she said. “The Master Plan defines the campus of the future while respecting and celebrating the highly valued elements that exist today. True to the spirit of Cornell, the plan respects tradition while encouraging innovation.” 

“I am pleased with the process that has been used over the past two years to involve all of Cornell’s constituencies to help formulate and to review the plan.”
“The responsible parties have reached out to and incorporated input from Cornell’s faculty, students, staff, trustees and alumni as well as the Ithaca and surrounding communities,” Peter C. Meinig ’62, chair of the Board of Trustees, told The Sun in March.