Erick Deluna
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Representatives of VisSpiro Strategies came to campus Jan. 26 and 27 to offer faculty, staff and students a kick-off workshop, giving a glimpse of the campus’ recently updated master plan and timeline.
The goal was to invite the campus community to learn about the master planning firm and their biggest challenge — consolidating the best ideas from the campus’ two different master plans, created in 2009 and 2012.
“There are two plans, with two different roles and expectations,” said Chris Rice, master planner for VisSpiro Strategies.
Rice said master plans often get looked at every five years and they often get overhauled when a new president comes in.
Rice and his colleagues described the timeline for growth and the addition of two more buildings on campus. The first would focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) with general classrooms and applied research laboratories; the second will be an on-campus dormitory for students.
VisSpiro began the workshop by describing the company’s long track record of creating strategic master planning and implementation services for campuses. Their clients include Austin Community College, and the 2015 plan for Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
Rice provided an overview of upcoming developments, adding that dorms will likely open in Fall of 2017.
VisSpiro aims to consolidate the best ideas from the two existing master plans into one, while describing a complex set of factors that determine how the university will choose site locations for the buildings, landscape design, infrastructure, roads and parking.
“As we design the campus for the next 25-30 years, who is it that we are really looking to design the campus for?” Rice said. “Although the new buildings are still in the planning phase, “communication is the key to successful planning.”
The company plans on designing the future of A&M-San Antonio with the architectural design reflecting the Missions of South Texas while understanding how the future generation of students are becoming more connected to technology.
“I could see it benefiting freshman and sophomores looking for a traditional experience,” said biology senior Heather Whaley.
As a result of a $63 million tuition revenue bond (TRB), the university will allocate funding for the new STEM building.
“I am looking forward to it [the STEM building] because it will provide dedicated faculty and undergraduate research space,” said Megan Wise de Valdez, assistant professor and program coordinator for the Biology program. “Currently, research is taking place at Brooks, UT Health Science Center and the teaching labs.”
A&M-San Antonio is one of the schools with the least amount of square feet per student of any universities reporting to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) in the state.
“We like it ‘cause it’s small and everyone knows each other,” said biology junior Lauren Bookout. “But If you keep adding space, It’ll make people more comfortable.”
The goal of VisSpiro is to “create a landmark for the community” while preparing “for the evolution and development of cutting edge, high technology education programs.”
