When the Campus Master Plan was last updated in 2007, it only minimally addressed campus sustainability. The existing Master Plan does state that “The campus will become a model of sustainable design and management through its everyday actions, monitoring, and reporting taking into account all appropriate economic, environmental, and social concerns.” The Master Plan also includes an extensive discussion of alternative campus landscapes relating to the open space enhancements specified in the plan, and encourages areas of open space to be developed as examples of native and sustainable landscapes. The Master Plan also endorsed transportation ideas that give priority to pedestrian, bicycle, and mass transit movement, consistent with sustainability goals. However, the existing Master Plan envisioned extensive growth of existing facilities to accommodate future program needs, and anticipated future growth to continue much as it had in the past, at an average rate of about 1.73 million gross square feet of space per decade.

The university is now working on the Campus Master Plan Update, which provides an opportunity to better incorporate sustainability goals. This includes additional recommendations for sustainable landscapes and sustainable goals in the design guidelines for open space, landscapes, and building facilities. Other opportunities for sustainable planning include, but are not limited to, designating specific sites as applicable for renewable energy production. Finally, the Campus Master Plan Update offers a critical opportunity to reconcile the need for new additional program space, as traditionally expected in planning efforts, with the established campus net zero growth policy.