Board hears first reading of new Landscape Master Plan

The Ohio State Board of Trustees on April 6 in Wooster heard a first reading of the University's Landscape Master Plan. The board also authorized the selection of architects and engineers for three campus projects.

All elements of the spaces outside of campus buildings -- from grass and trees to sidewalk and street pavement materials -- are subject to review and planning in the Landscape Master Plan.

The plan supports long-range goals of conserving resources and enhancing the overall Columbus campus environment. Planners have outlined broad recommendations to promote consistency in appearance and ideal pedestrian traffic patterns as well as specific guidelines for such decisions as shrub and tree selection, spacing between structures, development of green spaces and other visual considerations.

The document also categorizes all exterior spaces and provides recommendations for the treatment of each type of space.

Jill Morelli, university architect, said the Landscape Master Plan recommendations take precedence over open space proposals made in previous plans.

The plan's study area is generally bounded by High Street, Lane Avenue, state Route 315, and West 11th Avenue and the Health Sciences campus.

The plan outlines four principal goals: conservation and enhancement of natural and manmade resources; integration and unification of the campus development fabric, such as reinforcing open space links as pedestrian thoroughfares; improvement and enhancement of the campus environment, which covers such issues as accessibility for persons with disabilities, traffic and parking, public safety and art; and enhancement of linkages with the community.

The plan addresses issues that have been identified as problems, including ill-defined pedestrian paths, a lack of spaces for socialization, inconsistency in outdoor furniture, visual clutter, inconsistent signage standards, and the need for a comprehensive guide to the placement of art and memorials.

Among the 20 campuswide recommendations, planners propose that a site improvement review process be established for any construction projects that add to or change the functional or visual qualities of the landscape. The plan's authors also call for increased staffing levels for landscape maintenance; definition of art and memorial locations; studies of signage, lighting and bicycle routes; and consistency in selections of furniture, fencing and pavement. Optimum pedestrian connectors also are identified.

The plan designates six landscape priorities: the Oval, Mirror Lake Hollow, the High Street lawn, the Olentangy River Corridor, recreational fields and the Urban Forest -- the campus's overall tree canopy, which consists of 554 significant trees that have been identified. The plan also allows for the likelihood that future sites will emerge as priority landscapes.

The board is expected to vote on the plan in May.

Trustees authorized the University to hire architectural/engineering firms and request construction bids for a parking garage, graduate student housing and a clinic expansion.

A 2,000-space parking garage is proposed on the south side of Lane Avenue between Tuttle Park Place and Neil Avenue, just west of the Jesse Owens Recreation Center North. The estimated project cost is $28.7 million; funding will be provided by University bonds, with debt service paid by Transportation and Parking Services.

Housing, Food Services and Event Centers plans to build graduate and professional student apartments on the south campus, in an area generally bounded by West 10th, Neil and West 11th avenues and up to an alley just west of High Street. Funding for the $17.4 million project will be provided by University bonds.

Finally, University Hospitals will renovate 17,000 square feet on the second floor of the University Hospitals Clinic to expand the obstetrical/gynecological clinic area. The hospital will fund the $914,000 project.

Trustees accept endowed funds

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees accepted named endowed funds, changed the name of a degree and authorized establishment of a new department during its meeting April 6 in Wooster.

The board heard a report from Jerry A. May, vice president for development, on fund-raising efforts, including the establishment of the Max M. Fisher MBA Fellowship Fund.

Gifts of $150,435 were provided by family and friends of Fisher in honor of his 90th birthday. The annual income from the endowment will be used to provide one or more fellowships to MBA students of the highest caliber.

May also reported on the establishment of 11 other funds, with gifts totaling more than $380,000.

They included:

• The Peggy Egelhoff Breast Cancer Research Endowment Fund, $30,933, supporting breast cancer research at the Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

• Class of 1957 Endowed Dentistry Scholarship Fund, $26,050.

• The Edna Lillian Fritz Memorial Lectureship Fund, $65,000, supporting annual lectures in the College of Nursing.

• The Billy Joe Armstrong Football Scholarship Fund, $50,000.

• The Heffner Family Olentangy River Wetland Research Park "Site Engineer" Endowment Fund, $44,000.

• The Mildred and Simon Dinitz Graduate Fellowship Fund in Criminology in the Department of Sociology, $40,314.

• The Peggy S. Cuthbert M.D. Scholarship Fund in Primary Care Medicine, $25,625, providing scholarships or medical education expenses in the College of Medicine and Public Health.

• Robert C. Schneider Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ohio Scholarship Fund, $25,500, providing scholarships for students who were "littles" in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization.

• The Dr. Donald G. & Jo Anne Miller Endowment for Food Animal Research and Graduate Studies in Veterinary Preventive Medicine, $25,287.

• The James and Annette Hartman and Lester E. Wiley Scholarship Fund, $25,000, providing scholarships in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

• The Donald B. and Thekla R. Shackelford Medical Research Fund, $25,000.

Trustees OK creating new department

Trustees approved creation of the Department of Orthopaedics in the College of Medicine and Public Health, effective immediately. Orthopaedics has held divisional status within the Department of Surgery since 1954; today, 87 percent of orthopaedic units of colleges nationally are departments.

Creation of the department received support from the Department of Surgery, the Council of Chairs and the dean of the college, as well as approval by the Council on Academic Affairs and University Senate.

Trustees approved changing the name of the Bachelor of Science in Surveying degree to the Bachelor of Science in Geomatics Engineering, effective with graduation in spring quarter. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science, which offers the undergraduate major, proposed the name change to present a more accurate picture of the content of the program.