- \n
- Position the University as a key destination and\u00a0amenity within Brandon<\/li>\n
- Expand the trails system to connect an array of\u00a0public spaces for recreation<\/li>\n
- Provide additional services and amenities to meet\u00a0the needs of the surrounding community and city<\/li>\n
- Expand on educational and research offerings for\u00a0greater partnerships and shared relationships with\u00a0local elementary and post secondary institutions<\/li>\n
- Implement the \u201cmissing link\u201d identified in the City\u2019s\u00a0Active Transportation Plan that connects to Brandon\u00a0University, which will better position the Campus as\u00a0a key destination along the trail network.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/PlanningMap3-1024x711.png\")
Excerpt of Brandon Assiniboine River Corridor Master Plan 2015-2035, Figure 15: Active Transportation<\/p><\/div>\n
Local Scale<\/h3>\n
Relationship to the Surrounding Community<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/LocalMap1-300x237.png\")
<\/a>BU\u2019s main campus is located close to Brandon\u2019s historic\u00a0core, and a short walk from downtown. It is generally\u00a0surrounded by residential development, with some\u00a0commercial uses along adjacent major streets, such as\u00a0Victoria Avenue and 18th Street. Two municipal parks,\u00a0Coronation Park and Stanley Park, are a short walk from\u00a0campus. The campus benefits from an excellent location\u00a0in Brandon amidst an established and growing residential\u00a0community. The University has easy access to local\u00a0amenities and services, public transit services, and green\u00a0spaces.<\/p>\nThe relationship between the Campus and community\u00a0can be mutually beneficial. Because of its location in the\u00a0heart of a residential community, the University has the\u00a0potential to provide additional services and amenities such\u00a0as seniors housing on adjacent campus properties, student\u00a0housing on campus, commercial and cultural uses, and a\u00a0diversity of open spaces. All of these services and uses\u00a0can increase the amenity base for the area and enhance\u00a0relationships with the community.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/LocalMap2-1024x683.png\")
<\/a>Local land use diagram, DIALOG<\/p><\/div>\n
Relationship to Downtown Brandon<\/h4>\n
The University is within a ten to fifteen minute walking\u00a0distance from the predominantly mixed-use downtown\u00a0area, and specifically to Rosser Avenue which is the\u00a0main commercial corridor. Opportunities to enhance the\u00a0walking and cycling experience between the two city\u00a0destinations can be a collaborative effort between the\u00a0City and the University, and mutually beneficial to both.<\/p>\n
The newly established land assembly for the University\u00a0in the downtown core increases opportunities to service\u00a0not only the surrounding community, but also the\u00a0downtown community. Providing shuttle services to the\u00a0downtown increases the accessibility to the campuses,\u00a0and the increased use can be catalytic for downtown\u00a0revitalization.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/LocalMap3-1024x681.png\")
<\/a>BU proximity to Brandon downtown diagram, DIALOG<\/p><\/div>\n
Campus Scale<\/h3>\n
The following provides an analysis of the existing\u00a0conditions and the opportunities within the Campus\u00a0context.<\/p>\n
Buildings and Campus Structure<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/CampusMap1-215x300.jpg\")
<\/a>The evolution of the campus began in the early 1900s.\u00a0The diagram reflects the build-out of the Campus to\u00a0date. It was designed to be very intimate and pedestrian\u00a0in character, with vehicular moment and parking at\u00a0its edges, and predominantly pedestrian circulation\u00a0in the core. ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/CampusMap1a.jpg\")
<\/a>Its buildings include a mix of academic,\u00a0administrative, student residential, and maintenance\u00a0facilities. In addition, the University owns three\u00a0residential buildings at the intersection of Princess\u00a0Avenue and 18th street, used as housing rental units.<\/p>\nOpportunities:<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Grow the University within it\u2019s\u00a0current boundaries, as there are\u00a0many opportunities to expand on\u00a0site with the development of the\u00a0parking lot sites<\/li>\n
- Incorporate existing heritage\u00a0building assets in the Plan into the\u00a0built form framework for future\u00a0development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Campus Open Space<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/CampusMap2-215x300.jpg\")
<\/a>There are six different open space typologies identified\u00a0on the Campus which include: a forested edge landscape,\u00a0formal and informal courtyard spaces, an open field,\u00a0small plaza spaces. ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/CampusMap2a.jpg\")
<\/a>Many of these spaces are remnant\u00a0landscapes and open space alignments from the past\u00a0campus structure.<\/p>\nOpportunities:<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Build on the many existing open\u00a0space assets on the Campus and\u00a0enhance structural components of\u00a0the original framework that are still\u00a0valid today<\/li>\n
- Reinforce the north-south central\u00a0spine through the Campus<\/li>\n
- Bring the central open space\u00a0adjacent to the library, and the\u00a0formal Clark Hall open space to their\u00a0original grandeur<\/li>\n
- Create a new parking strategy for\u00a0the campus so that existing lots can\u00a0be used for new buildings and a\u00a0diversity of open spaces<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Circulation, Access, and Parking<\/h4>\n
The University is an integrated part of the surrounding\u00a0neighbourhood street and block network for the most\u00a0part. Generally, the grid pattern of development makes\u00a0the campus accessible and connected to its surrounding\u00a0context via neighbourhood streets and major roadways,\u00a0but mainly from a vehicular perspective. It is defined\u00a0along the east and south boundary by two major\u00a0vehicular corridors of Victoria Avenue (Hwy 1A) and 18th\u00a0Street (Hwy 10), which are main highway connectors\u00a0through the city. These corridors are major barriers to the\u00a0Campus from a pedestrian perspective. The traffic speeds,\u00a0the width of the right-of-way, and the aesthetic of the\u00a0streets, create an unsafe environment to pedestrians and\u00a0cyclists alike and make crossing them a hindrance.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/Transitmap1-300x259.jpg\")
<\/a> There are five vehicular points of access into the Campus\u00a0and at least 10 additional pedestrian points of access\u00a0but there is no clear defined front door. Some of the\u00a0neighbourhood streets such as Lorne Avenue have been\u00a0dead-ended at the periphery of the campus. These streets\u00a0can provide increased access and walkability to the\u00a0Campus.<\/p>\nThe public realm is generally defined by surface parking\u00a0lots. That said, most of the larger surface parking areas\u00a0are situated at the periphery of the campus, at the west,\u00a0or \u201cback\u201d, of the campus and south of Louise Avenue.\u00a0
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/TransitMap1a-118x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Only smaller parking lot footprints are located within\u00a0the Campus\u2019 core. The extent of the west parking lots\u00a0presents a negative interface to the adjacent residential\u00a0neighbourhood. In terms of transit, the Campus is well\u00a0serviced by the City\u2019s transit system, with at least five\u00a0stops at its periphery.<\/p>\nOpportunities:<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Collaborate with the City and Province to create a\u00a0strategy for the pedestrianization of the highways\u00a0surrounding the Campus<\/li>\n
- Open dead-end neighbourhood streets to connect to\u00a0the Campus and make it more accessible<\/li>\n
- Identify and define a hierarchy of gateways at key\u00a0access points<\/li>\n
- Enhance Campus\u2019 streets as beautiful multi-modal but\u00a0pedestrian prioritized movement corridors<\/li>\n
- Enhance transit options with a new route through the\u00a0Campus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Existing Building Frontages<\/h4>\n
Historically, the main address to the Campus has been its\u00a0east face. The structure is such that the earlier buildings\u00a0provided an easterly \u201cface\u201d or address to the street and\u00a0adjacent neighbourhood. The development pattern shows\u00a0that as the Campus evolved, buildings were inward facing,\u00a0with frontages primarily to courtyard spaces and along\u00a0Louise Avenue.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/Frontage-218x300.jpg\")
<\/a> Frontages along Princess Avenue and 20th\u00a0Street facing the neighbourhoods are fairly discontinuous.\u00a0This is a typical pattern of development for institutions\u00a0across Canada, where universities presented themselves\u00a0on a podium to the community, and over time, gradually\u00a0![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/FrontageKey.jpg\")
<\/a>shifted to becoming more internally focused, turning their\u00a0backs to the community.<\/p>\nOpportunities:<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Utilize the west parking lots as new\u00a0development sites, to establish a\u00a0building face to 20th street, and to\u00a0repair the block by providing new\u00a0buildings that respectfully transition\u00a0to the adjacent residential buildings\u00a0in height, scale, and massing<\/li>\n
- Frame and define the sports field and\u00a0create a frontage and identity along\u00a0the highway corridors<\/li>\n
- Use new developments to improve\u00a0the face of the Campus, not only to\u00a0the community, but also to the public\u00a0realm within<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Existing Views and View Corridors<\/h4>\n
Identifying and enhancing views and view corridors\u00a0are important to improving structure and wayfinding,\u00a0building the Campus identity, and showcasing its assets.\u00a0
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/View-230x300.jpg\")
<\/a>The University already has, or the bones of, key view\u00a0corridors that terminate at key buildings and architecture,\u00a0that visually connect the Campus to the adjacent\u00a0neighbourhood, and that emphasize key pedestrian\u00a0corridors.<\/p>\nOpportunities:<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brandonu.ca\/campusplan\/files\/LocalMap1.png\")
<\/a>BU\u2019s main campus is located close to Brandon\u2019s historic\u00a0core, and a short walk from downtown. It is generally\u00a0surrounded by residential development, with some\u00a0commercial uses along adjacent major streets, such as\u00a0Victoria Avenue and 18th Street. Two municipal parks,\u00a0Coronation Park and Stanley Park, are a short walk from\u00a0campus. The campus benefits from an excellent location\u00a0in Brandon amidst an established and growing residential\u00a0community. The University has easy access to local\u00a0amenities and services, public transit services, and green\u00a0spaces.<\/p>\n