The following principles provide a broad foundation for the development of the Master Plan. A series of aspirations are listed under each principle and suggest potential objectives for future development.

1. Concentrated academic campus
• Maximize core academic space within 10 minute walking zone
• Enable more direct pedestrian connections
• Strengthen academic and social connectivity
• Contain infrastructure
• Preserve the natural landscape and agricultural image
• Mixed-use

2. Student engagement and campus experience
• Increase opportunities for the polytechnic, learn-by-doing experience
• Active use and flexibility of outdoor spaces for social and academic purposes - campus as a classroom-classroom without walls
• Multipurpose meeting/events venue
• Academic support center
• Expand recreation wellness programs
• Replace community for traditional residences
• Home rooms for students, neighborhood, colleges
• Open lands for controlled University/community engagement: walking/running trails, places for quiet
• Clarity of campus organization
• Building on tradition – emphasize heritage
• One-stop shop for students, faculty, staff

3. Polytechnic, learn by doing experience
• Clear functional organization of colleges
• Spaces on campus for co-curricular and extra curricular projects
• Internship and co-op opportunities on the campus or immediately adjacent
• Dedicated, flexible research space on or near the academic core
• Neutral spaces for faculty and staff
• White space
• The wireless University- study spaces anywhere
• Academic- project based programs

4. Pedestrian oriented campus
• Non motorized options and pathways
• Clarity of primary north-south and east-west pathway in the core campus and beyond
• Hierarchy of pathways
• Ad hoc and planned meeting places for social and academic connections
• Extend clear, safe, direct connections beyond the core academic campus
• Safety - reduced pedestrian/vehicular conflicts
• Reduce need or incentive for auto trips
• Discourage public, through-traffic on Kellogg Drive
• Commercial services, mixed-use development near campus
• Direct link shuttles
• Wayfinding

5. Identity
• State, regional, university district, campus, colleges, other
• Home rooms
• Open space association and programming
• Definable campus gateways that build on campus assets
• Good access and visibility for heritage spaces and places (view corridors, accessibility, visibility)
• Campus as an arboretum, labeling of agriculture open spaces
• Build on assets

6. Sustainability
• No-build first option
• Re-develop, re-purpose existing space
• Build on previously developed sites- strive for net zero open land development
• Establish energy budget for buildings and operations- net zero energy and GHG emissions
• Contain utilities infrastructure
• Enhance social and academic connections
• Reduce auto emissions
• Limit growth of parking
• Concentrated, campus edge, multi-model parking
• Utilization of physical resources – classrooms, labs, offices
• Flexibility
• Connect building occupants to ownership of energy/water consumption
• Create a system of rewards