Facilities Master Plan

Existing Conditions

Circulation

Pedestrians 

The developed part of campus has a complete network of pedestrian pathways between buildings and other important campus spaces. In addition, a fitness trail circles through the woods and sensitive areas in the southern portion of campus past wetlands and certain plant species used for education. This path is highly valued by the college.  

On the main portion of campus, the pedestrian experience is pleasant due to the large number of trees and comfortable scale of the buildings, but most pathways appear utilitarian. The yellow fire lanes and “service drive” character of those pathways with asphalt paving contribute to this.  

Routes and destinations along the pathways are not clear in many areas. Evident vistas and landmarks as well as signage and information maps are scarce. This is somewhat mitigated by the new Kennelly Commons which provides an open pedestrian-oriented environment that provides a strong campus center. 

The planned demolition of inadequate buildings and addition of new buildings will provide an opportunity to improve the clarity of circulation, open space and the pedestrian experience. The new Technology and Science Center complex, the Kennelly Commons, and the ultimate demolition of the old ST HS, and TI complexes, will provide opportunities for improvements. A stronger pedestrian and visual entry along SE 320th Street between 122nd Avenue SE and 124th Avenue SE is envisioned to improve the pedestrian experience. 

Vehicles 

Vehicles enter the campus at two points along SE 320th Street. Both entrances are equal in hierarchy and enter into parking lots. There is no primary campus entrance and the existing entrances do not convey a strong front-door image for the college. 

Vehicular circulation on the campus is generally through parking lots that surround the existing development and are difficult to navigate. The existing loop road is somewhat difficult to follow, with changes in topography; this is especially true on the west side of campus. 

The master plan update scheduled to begin in January, 2006 will include recommendations for improved signage and ease of travel through and in/out of campus. 

A new entry on the east side constructed, along with the student housing project, has positively impacted circulation, "car stacking" at the security booth as well as helping to clarify the vehicular entrance on the east side of campus.  

Service access to a number of buildings is provided via pedestrian routes. Buildings with docks or loading areas include HLB, SS, RLC, LSC, STD, SMT, WT, MC as well as the TI complex. Service to other buildings is provided through these loading areas. 

Fire lanes are also located on pedestrian routes. Two major fire lanes circulate through campus, one along Mathews Way and the other past LSC and PE between Mathews Way and the IV complex. A short lane provides access to the OE buildings and RLC. Another short lane is just south of SE 320th Street between HLB and SS.  
 

While it is important to maximize circulation routes with multiple uses, these routes are most often used by pedestrians and should read as predominantly pedestrian pathways. Currently the yellow striping, large lettering for fire lanes and the asphalt itself gives the pathways the feel of a service lane and diminish the quality of a pedestrian experience. These issues will also be examined in the master plan update. 

Parking 

Parking was originally established as two large separate "dead-end" lots on the east and west. Eventually the lots were connected with a loop road and parking was added along the road in the south (Lot G) and at a large lot to the southwest of campus (Lot I). 

The parking lots are interrupted with substantial and sometimes mature plantings of native and non-native plants. These plantings serve to soften the visual impact of the parking, reinforce the forest character of the campus, and reduce the amount of storm runoff from the parking paving. 

The total number of stalls currently provided is 1,970. Parking Lot Counts offers a breakdown of the number and types of parking spaces in each lot. Additional parking should have minimal impact on the environment, particularly vegetation and wetlands, and retain the natural and informal arrangement.  

We may consider a future parking garage as an alternative to increased surface parking in order to minimize increases in impervious surfaces and the impact on the environment. Structured parking might also increase potential build-able land. However, any improvements to parking (whether surface or structured) must go hand in hand with our college environmental value system.  

Transportation and Parking Alternatives 

The college Transportation Advisory Committee provides leadership for transportation and parking initiatives.  The committee’s mission statement reads: 

To provide our campus community with a safe and efficient transportation plan that will enhance the accessibility, mobility and parking on campus. 

The work of this committee is vital to the college master planning efforts.  Current transportation and parking information may be viewed at the committee’s web site below. http://www.greenriver.edu/transportation/Mission.htm