Facilities Master Plan

History

Original GRCC Master Plan 1964 - 1970

The first master plan for Green River Community College (GRCC) was completed in 1964. GRCC was to have four programs: college transfer; terminal education; community interest; and counseling for education, career and life tailored to satisfy the contemporary educational needs of the surrounding community. 

Figure 1 shows the original physical plan for 1000 students and Figure 2 for 2500 students. The Rutkowski Learning Center, the first building constructed on campus (now used for classrooms) was to be the central focus of the campus. The Student Center was centrally located, to draw vocational and academic students together. Other physical directives included:

• avoid a segregated upper and lower campus
• do not identify academic classroom complexes with a major division of the college
• provide flexibility
• retain the wilderness quality unique to the campus
   

Source: "Program and Master Plan for Development of a 2,500 Student Campus," Green River Community College, 1964 by Sullam & Aehle, AIA, Seattle.

Other Previous GRCC Master Plans

Subsequent plans were developed in 1967 (Figure 3), 1969 and 1970 (Figure 4). The original 1964 concept drove these plans and building arrangements were largely consistent in the location of recreation fields, the Physical Education building and the concept of clusters. 

Sources: "Program and Master Plan for Development of Green River Community College Campus, Supplement 1," 1967 by Sullam & Aehle, AIA, Seattle; "Program and Master Plan for Development of Green River Community College Campus, Supplement 1A," 1967 by Sullam & Aehle, AIA, Seattle (faded blue); "Student Services Center, Social Services Building, Business Building, Program for Phase 2B, Green River Community College," June 1969, Norman G. Aehle, AIA, Seattle; "Student Services Center, Social Services Building, Business Building, Design Development-Phase 2B," Green River Community College, Oct. 1969, Norman G. Aehle, AIA, Seattle; "Building Specifications: Social Sciences Building, Business and Faculty Office Complex, Green River Community College," March 1970, Norman G. Aehle, AIA, Seattle.  

Recent Master Planning Efforts

In July 2001, GRCC developed a new facility master plan that:

• established plans for growth and replacement over the next several years
• examined these plans in the long term context
• Proposed biennial capital budget requests for the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), the Office of Financial Management (OFM), and the state legislature within the context of all campus planning efforts.

The new master plan includes an assessment of existing physical conditions including the overall site, buildings, and infrastructure.  The master planning committee also reviewed projected space needs; a replacement, alteration and repair plan for buildings, open space, circulation, parking, and physical plant operations of the college were also reviewed. 

The plan was based on the college's strategic and instructional plans which include the college’s mission and goals, forecasted instructional and institutional programs, forecasted FTEs, existing condition and life-cycle analysis of the facilities, and coordination with local authorities, the community and other stakeholders. The plan provides ongoing direction and guidance for the evolving facility needs of the campus. 

Long-range master plan alternatives were considered and over time, were refined with stakeholder and local jurisdiction involvement. In addition, a framework for an ongoing master plan process was completed that describes participants, a communication plan, and a process for regular reviews and updates as the strategic and educational plans and facility needs evolve. 

Master Planning Principles

An ad-hoc committee with representation from faculty and staff drafted master plan principles that reflect college values and goals as expressed in the GRCC mission and goals and then presented them to the college community.

Facilities Master Plan Updates

In 2003 the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) was updated to reflect the capital projects that were funded for 2003-2005 and to prepare for the 2005-2007 capital request submittal. 

In 2005, the FMP was again updated to reflect the capital projects that were funded for 2005-2007 and prepare for the 2007-2009 capital request submittal. 

The current FMP update began in winter 2006 and was completed in fall 2006. It reflects the capital projects requested for the 2007-2009 biennium as well as provides direction for the 2009-2011 capital request submittal due in December of 2007. This update also provides a conceptual framework for future development and criteria for a variety of college planning, infrastructure, and environmental topics. The primary goal of this master planning document is to provide a structure that will guide GRCC in the future development of the main campus.