A Revitalized Campus
The recently adopted Strategic Plan and New Partnership agreement with the Commonwealth include a set of goals that, when realized, will revitalize the campus by upgrading existing facilities, optimizing use of existing space, developing new useable space, and increasing college housing.

A planning and design process to achieve those facility goals was initiated. The MassArt community engaged in a broad exploration of existing space use, existing building conditions, and projected space needs. Many development scenarios were considered to meet future facility requirements. The analysis revealed that, with major investments in renovation projects and new construction, MassArt could use its’ existing buildings and land more effectively, and accommodate projected space needs on the main campus. A PDF brochure about the project is available here: Making Room for Innovation

A preferred development strategy emerged, which contains the following elements:

• construction of a new Design Center/Galleries building on the site of the existing Gymnasium, adding useable square feet to the existing main campus

• a new Main Entrance to the MassArt campus from Huntington Avenue, and circulation improvements that are an integral part of the Design Center project

• the transformation of the Kennedy Building into a dynamic Campus Center, possibly including student residential units on the upper floors

• major capital repairs to the Tower, North, South and East buildings, along with reallocation of and improvements to academic and support space across campus. This work will proceed in phases over a 10 plus–year period

• a commitment to increase college sponsored housing by more than 50%. Several site options are being explored including the upper floors of the Kennedy Building.

• a commitment to incorporate ‘green’ building materials and technologies wherever possible in all facilities improvement and development projects

Progress

• prepared conceptual plans and cost estimates for the Design Center/Galleries building, the Kennedy Campus Center / Residence Hall, Circulation Improvements, and the Tower Auditorium project

• agreement on a long term phasing schedule for the revitalization of the MassArt campus. The first project will be construction of the new Design Center/Galleries Building.

• final approval from the MassArt Board of Trustees, Board of Higher Education, and DCAM (Department of Capital Asset Management) to fund and proceed with the next phase of the project: a feasibility study for the Design Center and related projects

• reservation of bonding capacity to finance the Kennedy Campus Center / Residence Hall and preliminary approval from the MSCBA (Massachusetts State College Building Authority) to proceed with feasibility study

• $15 million for the Design Center included in the Governor’s Supplemental Budget request to the Legislature to fund capital projects at public colleges and universities. One of only 13 projects on the list, and the only project that will support the arts and the creative economy in the Commonwealth

• a series of presentations to the MassArt community (students, faculty, staff, Board of Trustees and Foundation Board) resulting in general support for the overall facilities development strategy and the conceptual plans for the Design Center

• preliminary discussions with legislators, public agencies and neighbors about MassArt’s long term plans to revitalize its campus. Subsequent comments indicate general support for the overall development strategy and the specific plans to build the Design Center

Next Steps

• complete a conceptual Master Plan and a Master Schedule for the reallocation of space across the entire main campus when the Design Center and Kennedy renovation projects are complete. Presentations to the MassArt community for review and comments

• continue to meet with legislators and the Govenor’s Administration to advocate for full funding of the Design Center/Galleries and the related projects

• issue a Request For Proposals (RFP) with DCAM addressed to architecture firms for the feasibility study for the Design Center/Galleries and related projects

• continue fundraising efforts to generate $2 million dollars in private funds to support the Design Center/Galleries project

• continue research and preliminary preparations to secure grant money to support the design and construction of the Design Center/Galleries

• complete a comprehensive Programming and Feasibility Study with the selected architecture firm to establish a detailed building program, conceptual design, and project budget for the Design Center and related work.