FAQs
- Who oversees the implementation of the Campus Master Plan?
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- Bucknell's Operations and Management Group guides master plan progress. The Office of Facilities, led by Dennis Hawley, Associate Vice President for Facilities, manages design and construction projects. The faculty Academic Space Committee advises the provost regarding academic space needs and decisions. The Bucknell University Board of Trustees evaluates/approves strategic decisions related to the plan.
- What happened to the fraternities situated behind the library?
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- Bucknell had to demolish two University-owned fraternity buildings - Lambda Chi Alpha and Kappa Delta Rho - to make way for Academic West. We replaced these buildings with new University-owned fraternity housing in the southern part of campus overlooking the Susquehanna River. These buildings will be LEED certified.
- Who developed the Campus Master Plan?
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- Shepley Bulfinch of Boston, Mass., was chosen from a field of nearly 100 firms. It is one of the oldest continuously practicing architectural firms in the world. Before drafting the Master Plan and guidelines, the Shepley Bulfinch team conducted a comprehensive campus space audit and met with many people on campus and in the local community to understand how facilities, academics, campus life, athletics, recreation and the Lewisburg community influence one another. A faculty-staff advisory group acted as sounding board for ideas and communication to campus, Trustees and the community and ensured that the plan was appropriate to Bucknell’s mission. The Bucknell University Board of Trustees approved the Campus Master Plan in April 2008.
- Who will design the buildings?
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- What will the architecture look like?
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- Any changes to campus will complement Bucknell's historic architectural fabric of red Georgian-style brick buildings and open green spaces.
- When will the Campus Master Plan be fully implemented?
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- The master plan includes a 75-year land use plan for academic, student housing, athletics and recreation facilities and a campus plan addressing priorities for the next 30 years. The plan is flexible so that we can adapt to best fulfill our mission as our needs change over time.
- How is Bucknell funding the new facilities and related infrastructure?
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- According to project location and purpose, we will rely on a mix of private and public funding resources as well as loans. For example:
Private funds -- We have identified private gifts to support most of the $24 million needed to construct Academic West.
Federal and state funds -- These may help us with the cost of shifting the Route 15 campus entrance to improve traffic and pedestrian safety and enhance the main entrance to campus. Projects located entirely within Bucknell's boundaries are not eligible for public funding.
Loans -- With loan rates so low and Bucknell's current debt set to be paid off by 2022, the Board authorized university to add to its current debt additional borrowings of up to $40 million to support projects fulfilling Campus Master Plan.
