Staff Excellence: Campus Planning and Architecture

When taking a stroll at Purdue University’s West Lafayette location, the historic architecture and exquisite landscapes certainly stand out. There is a dedicated group of architects and planners who work hard to ensure the physical campus is attractive, consistent, functional and sustainable. They make up the Campus Planning and Architecture department.

Campus Planning and Architecture is responsible for the campus planning process, which includes project scoping, site planning, programming, and designing new construction and renovations. The department provides leadership for interior and exterior architectural design, including guidance on university aesthetics and landscape standards.

Campus Planning and Architecture is responsible for creating and maintaining campus master plans. Master plans help align the physical campus with the missions, programmatic goals and initiatives of the university. The group is currently working to update the Giant Leaps Master Plan.

“The master plan was initially developed based on data from 2016,” explained Amber Chellis-Omedo, senior director of Campus Planning and Architecture and university architect. “The university has seen many changes since then, including a new administration and growth in enrollment. It’s a priority for my team to get the plan updated to reflect these significant changes. We are excited to be developing the master plan update in collaboration with Purdue Research Foundation.”

The department also just received an endorsement by the Board of Trustees for the comprehensive conceptual campus master plan for Purdue University in Indianapolis. The plan outlines the next 50 years by envisioning 16 new buildings on 28 acres to support more than 5,300 residence beds and an enrollment of 15,000 students.

“Exciting things are happening in Indianapolis, and our team is dedicated to helping shape the future of Purdue in the capital city,” Chellis-Omedo said. “Unveiling a plan of this magnitude takes an extensive amount of time and effort, and I am proud of the framework we were able to develop for the future of Purdue University in Indianapolis.”

People make it possible

Delivering this vision requires an exceptional team with diverse expertise. The Campus Planning and Architecture team collectively guides the physical development of Purdue’s campuses from concept to completion. They lead the identification, prioritization and delivery of all planning and architectural services in close partnership with the Board of Trustees, university leadership, local officials and industry partners. Within this framework, the campus planning team drives master plan implementation, feasibility studies and landscape-level infrastructure planning while providing technical guidance during construction. The architecture team sets the design vision and provides detailed oversight to ensure every project upholds Purdue’s aesthetic standards. The architecture team also consults on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act across campus. Campus Planning and Architecture also coordinates high-priority initiatives like classroom renovations, wayfinding signage, donor signage standards (in collaboration with the Purdue for Life Foundation) and ADA restroom upgrades. Interior design is also a part of the department’s duties; they select attractive, durable, cost-effective furnishings and finishes for campus.

A culture of collaboration

Creating a campus that is both beautiful and functional requires broad collaboration. Campus Planning and Architecture has an amazing team that works closely with many campus partners. This list includes but is not limited to the following:

• Building Services — Aligning designs with custodial and maintenance considerations to ensure long-term functionality and cost-effectiveness
• Capital Asset Management — Partnering with project managers who oversee construction scope, schedule and budget from start to finish and with university engineers on project planning, cost estimating, construction and contracting
• Energy and Utilities — Coordinating infrastructure planning, energy efficiency and utility delivery for new and renovated facilities
• Operations and Maintenance — Collaborating to ensure new projects and renovations are efficient to operate and maintain over time
• Purdue Brand Studio —Collaborating on campus dress for West Lafayette and Indianapolis
• Environmental Health and Public Safety —Collaborating on new projects, renovations, LifeSafety, code compliance, camera locations, emergency phone locations and much more
• Real Estate, Space Administration and Occupancy Planning — Coordinating land-use planning, property acquisition and strategic site selection in alignment with the master plan
• Sustainability— Partnering on green building strategies, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, and operational initiatives

Campus Planning and Architecture is part of Administrative Operations. The organization supports the university through safe, reliable and transformative services. Ensuring the physical campus aligns with the university’s strategic initiatives is one of many ways the organization helps power Purdue. Be sure to follow @purdueoperations on Instagram and Purdue Administrative Operations on Facebook for updates.