COUNCIL FOR THE BUlL T ENVIRONMENT

Co-Chairs: Dr. Karan L. Watson, Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Jerry R. Strawser, Vice President for Finance and Administration

November 1 I, 2015

MEMORANDUM

TO: President Michael K. Young President, Texas A&M University

SUBJECT: CBE Recommendation: Lamar Greenspace Pocket Park

The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) received a request from College of Engineering to construct a green space with a pocket park at the end of Lamar Street, south of the Peterson building. The request and reports from the Design Review, Facilities Utilization and Planning, and Technical sub­councils are attached.

Design Review sub-council (DRsc) voted to recommend concept approval ofthe addition of a greenspace in the area south of the Peterson Building, with the following caveats:

• Approval is contingent on coordination with Transportation Services and resolution of issues relating to the closure of a portion of Lamar Street. This includes parking, emergency vehicle access, and vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic flow .

• The project should consider a plan for the area/street as a whole, rather than just the immediate area south of the Peterson Building. This plan should be coordinated with the Campus Master Plan Update planning firm and the overall comprehensive vision of this area.

• Design of the pocket park area should relate to its immediate context and density of the space. Consider a design that would create a modern, urban space and better pedestrian flow .

• Further design details should be presented at I 00% Schematic Design and I 00% Design Development, in accordance with DRsc procedures.

The Facilities Utilization and Planning (FUPsc) sub-council voted to recommend the request to construct a green space with a pocket park at the end of Lamar Street, provided the following concerns are addressed:

• Coordinate with Transportation Services to address concerns about traffic flow (pedestrian and vehicular) changes, especially with regard to emergency services access, and the impact of the loss of parking spaces.

• Consider the plan for the wider area around the park (the entire street between Nagle and Spence). If there are plans for the adjacent area, perhaps there could be coordination with this project.

Jack K. Williams Admm1strat1on Building. Su1te 100 1248 TAMU College Stat1on. TX 77843-1248 USA

Tel +1 979.845.4016 Fax. +1 979.845.6994 http.//cbe tamu.edu/

November II , 2015 CBE Recommendation: Lamar Greenspace Pocket Park Page 2

The Technical Review sub-council (TRsc) supports the proposed request for the Lamar Greenspace Pocket Park and recommends approval provided the following issues/concerns are addressed and funded.

• The project team should coordinate with Grounds Management for landscaping and irrigation concerns.

• There is fiber optic cabling running along the northern sidewalk of Lamar Street. We will expect that locates will be done and any potential construction impact will account for re-routing of fiber if necessary.

The CBE voted to recommend, with noted caveats, the President' s approval of the request from the College of Engineering for the Lamar Greens pace Pocket Park, south of the Peterson Building.

11-/& IS Date

Provost and Executive Vice President Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment

Approved:

t1 ts-Da e

President

Jerry . rawser Date Vice President for Finance and Administration Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment

cc: Sub-Council Chairs, Council for the Built Environment M. Katherine Banks, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering

TEXAS A&M f"\ ENGINEERING -h-

312 Jack K. Williams Administration Building I 3126 TAMU I College Station, Texas 77843-3126

M. Katherine Banks, Ph.D., P.E. Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering

Director, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station Harold J. Haynes Dean's Chair Professor

979.845.7203 I FAX 979.845.4925 I k-banks@tamu.edu

MEMORANDUM

TO: Karan Watson Executive Vice President and Provost

Jerry Strawser Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer

FROM: M. Katherine Banks fh W6 avlads Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering

DATE: May 26, 2015

SUBJECT: Lamar Greenspace - Pocket Park

There are plans for the Peterson building (#0444) to be renovated and assigned to the Dwight Look College of Engineering within the next three years. To consolidate the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, which is now located in four separate buildings across campus, the Peterson building and the three adjacent Engineering Activities buildings will be used to house faculty, staff and students in this department.

The area between the Peterson building and the Engineering Activities buildings is Lamar Street. This street has a dead end at Nagle Street. Since this street is less than a half block away from the larger parallel street of Lubbock, Lamar is primarily used for parking and access to the Peterson and Library Annex loading docks.

Given that there will be significantly more pedestrian traffic between the Engineering Activities building and the Peterson building due to the reassignment, we are requesting a green space with a pocket park be constructed at the end of Lamar Street, south of Peterson. Attached is a photo of the area to be impacted and images of the planned design of the green space. This change will require removing approximately 50 linear feet of Lamar as it connects to Nagle Street and ten parking spaces. The sidewalk on Nagle and the loading docks for Peterson and the Library Annex will not be affected. We are planning for this project to take place during the 2017/18 academic year.

This change will protect the safety of our students, faculty, and staff as they walk and transport equipment between the adjacent computer science and engineering assigned buildings. In addition, this change will significantly improve the appearance of that area and provide space for students and campus visitors to meet and socialize.

The cost for removal of road materials and landscaping for the green space and pocket park is estimated to be $500K. The college of engineering will be solely responsible for funding this

Dwight Look College of Engineering I Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station I Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service I Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Lamar Greenspace and Pocket Park I Page 2 of 4

project. We have discussed this project with Peter Lange, Executive Director for Transportation Services.

I am requesting review of this plan by Council for the Built Environment, and subsequent consideration of the project by you and the President for approval. Thank you for your consideration of this project.

Attachments

cc: N.K. Anand J. Crawford T. Butler Peter Lange

Location of Greens • ace-Pocket Park - Current Image

Peterson Building

Lamar Greenspace and Pocket Park I Page 3 of 4

ATTACHMENT:

Location of Greenspace-Pocket Park - Planned

Lamar Greenspace and Pocket Park I Page 4 of 4

Future Greenspace-Pocket Park

Future Greenspace-Pocket Park

COUNCIL FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT DESIGN REVIEW SUB-COUNCIL

1

MEMORANDUM TO: Dr. Jerry Strawser Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment

Dr. Karan Watson Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment FROM: Ms. Lilia Gonzales, AIA University Architect and Chair, Design Review Sub-Council DATE: August 21, 2015 RE: Design Review Sub-Council (DRsc) Report

Lamar Greenspace – Pocket Park On August 19, 2015 the Design Review sub-council (DRsc) reviewed a request from the College of Engineering for the creation of a greenspace and pocket park at the end of Lamar Street, south of the Peterson building. The intent of the project is to safely accommodate increased pedestrian traffic between the Engineering Activities Buildings (EAB) and the Peterson Building, significantly improve the appearance of that area, and provide a space for students and visitors to meet and socialize. The project is estimated at $500,000 and will be funded by the College of Engineering. The proposed greenspace would extend from the south end of the Peterson Building across Lamar Street to the EAB. This would require partial closure of Lamar Street (approximately 145 lineal feet), which currently allows restricted access. Closure of this portion of Lamar Street would also result in the elimination of ten parking spaces; however, it would allow for parking on the remainder of Lamar and would not impact access to the Library Annex or Peterson Building loading docks. It was noted that primary users of the parking spaces on Lamar Street are faculty members from the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, who will be vacating the Peterson building in the 2017/18 academic year. Future Peterson Building residents could park in the nearby parking garage. The College of Engineering has begun preliminary discussions with Transportation Services on this proposal. The concept design currently includes a paved cross-axis between the Peterson Building and the EAB separated by a covered pavilion. Terraced grassy areas adjacent to the Peterson Building provide additional seating for students. New planting beds will be incorporated into this area and along Nagle Street. DRsc members expressed several concerns and/or comments: concern with the disruption and/or conflict with pedestrian, vehicular and bicycle flow through the area, the use of more delicate plantings which are not appropriate for the space, and the need for the project to view the street/area comprehensively as it significantly impacts adjacent areas.

COUNCIL FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT DESIGN REVIEW SUB-COUNCIL

2

Recommendation The Design Review sub-council voted to recommend concept approval of the addition of a greenspace in the area south of the Peterson Building, with the following caveats:

- Approval is contingent on coordination with Transportation Services and resolution of issues relating to the closure of a portion of Lamar Street. This includes parking, emergency vehicle access, and vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic flow.

- The project should consider a plan for the area/street as a whole, rather than just the immediate area south of the Peterson Building. This plan should be coordinated with the Campus Master Plan Update planning firm and the overall comprehensive vision of this area.

- Design of the pocket park area should relate to its immediate context and density of the space. Consider a design that would create a modern, urban space and better pedestrian flow.

- Further design details should be presented at 100% Schematic Design and 100% Design Development, in accordance with DRsc procedures.

Selected images are attached. Please let me know if you need additional information. cc: Kathy Banks Peter Lange

DRsc Members Bettyann Zito

Lamar Greenspace

Pocket Park

Council for Built Environment2015

M. Katherine Banks, Ph.D., P.E.Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering

Director, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station

Purpose

10

• As part of the consolidation of building locations assigned to the Department of Computer Science, creation of the pocket park will:- Safely accommodate increased pedestrian

traffic between the Engineering Activities Buildings and the Peterson Building

- Significantly improve the appearance of that area

- Provide space for students and campus visitors to meet and socialize

Aerial View

11

New Aerial

12

Peterson Building

Peterson/EAB Landscape

13

Peterson/EAB Landscaping

14

Proposed Facilities

15

• Creation of green space and pocket park to be constructed at the end of Lamar Street

• Elimination of ~145 lineal feet of Lamar Street and 10 parking spaces

• Loading docks for the Peterson Building and Library Annex will not be affected

Proposed Financing and Timeline

Estimated Cost $500,000

Proposedconstruction

• Removal of ~145 lineal feet of Lamar as it connects to Nagle Street and 10 parking places

• Removal of road materials and installation of landscaping for the green space

Funding Sources The Dwight Look College of Engineering will be solely responsible for funding this project

Construction Timeline

2017/2018 academic year

Council for the Built Environment Facilities Utilization and Planning Sub-Council

October 15, 2015 MEMORANDUM To: Dr. Karan Watson Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment Dr. Jerry Strawser Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment From: Dr. J. Martin Scholtz Chair, CBE-Facilities Utilization and Planning Sub-Council Subject: Facilities Utilization and Planning sub-council (FUPsc) Report

Lamar Greenspace – Pocket Park SCOPE The FUPsc has considered the request by Dr. M. Katherine Banks, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering to construct a green space with a pocket park at the end of Lamar Street, south of the Peterson Building, to be completed in the 2017/18 academic year. As noted in the attached memorandum, the Dwight Look College of Engineering anticipates the re-assignment of the Peterson building to the college and the pedestrian traffic in the area between Peterson and the Engineering Activities building (Lamar Street) will increase significantly. The plan is designed to ensure the safety of pedestrians as well as improve the aesthetics of the area. The cost of the entire project will be borne by the college of engineering. FUPsc members expressed concern about how the closure of Lamar Street would impact Transportation Services (bus routes) and emergency services access and other types of traffic flow in the area. There is also an expected loss of 10 parking spaces and whether these spaces could be made up with additional parking on Nagle. The request notes that the project has been discussed with the Executive Director of Transportation Services, but it is unclear whether there has been a formal analysis or recommendation of support by Transportation Services. Other concerns had to do with the wider area around the proposed park. For example, Should the plans include the surrounding area/street in accordance with the Campus Master Plan? Additionally, how will the landscaping of the new park coordinate with the surrounding area and whether that landscaping will be upgraded to prevent a stark contrast with the new park? RECOMMENDATION The Council for the Built Environment’s (CBE) Facilities Utilization Review sub-committee (FURsc) has voted to recommend that the CBE support the request to construct a green space with a pocket park at the end of Lamar Street, provided the following concerns are addressed:

• Coordinate with Transportation Services to address concerns about traffic flow (pedestrian and vehicular) changes, especially with regard to emergency services access, and the impact of the loss of parking spaces.

Council for the Built Environment Facilities Utilization and Planning Sub-Council

• Consider the plan for the wider area around the park (the entire street between

Nagle and Spence). Consider the plan for the wider area around the park (the entire street between Nagle and Spence). If there are plans for the adjacent area, perhaps there could be coordination with this project.

We are pleased to offer this recommendation and welcome further inquiries related to this analysis. CC: CBE-FUPsc members Bettyann Zito