Executive Summary

In June, 2004, the firm of Freese and Nichols, Inc. was retained to develop a District-wide Facilities Master Plan to assist the Tarrant County College District (TCCD) in establishing a long-range planning framework to guide the District both during the present period of growth and well into the future.

This Facilities Master Plan presents an organized approach that will assist District decision-makers in the development of aesthetically pleasing campuses that provide a state-of-the-art learning environment. The ultimate goal of the plan is to help TCCD conserve and enhance its resources and to improve and sustain the environmental and academic quality of each campus for faculty, staff, students and visitors.

The recommendations of this plan reflect the countless hours of participation and contribution from Tarrant County College District’s Facility Master Plan Committee, faculty, staff, students and community leaders. The document was developed within the context of numerous concurrent planning and design activities.

Process

The project approach adopted by the Planning Team and the Master Plan Committee is a systematic process that includes Data Gathering, Analysis, Review and Recommendations. The Data Gathering Phase included multiple interview sessions with faculty, staff, students and community leaders, supplemented with Web-based questionnaires and a campus-by-campus facilities inventory. The District provided the team with a thorough facility condition assessment that was conducted by 3DI.

During the Analysis Phase, the Planning Team determined opportunities, constraints, strengths and weaknesses by qualifying and evaluating the data collected. Existing physical conditions were studied incrementally, including circulation, pedestrian travel distances, important viewsheds, green space, building function and parking. Potential building sites, repair and replacement costs and functional space planning characteristics were considered for each campus. Maps generated for the study of these aspects were used to convey essential information to the Committee. Conclusions and decisions from these studies were used to generate conceptual plans.

District-wide goals and objectives were defined by the Planning Team and the Committee to guide the development of the plan. The primary goals include the improvement of the overall campus image and the functionality of its facilities, the enhancement of the student experience, and the strengthening of overall campus security. Another important goal is to position TCCD for future growth and expansion.

Within the context of these District-wide goals and objectives, further issues and needs were addressed. These included specific campus security initiatives, enhanced signage and wayfinding, improved transportation and elimination of circulation conflicts, parking elements, life safety and accessibility measures, improved campus layout and landscaping, enhancement of student services, incorporation of physical plant service upgrades and expansion and provision of various campus equipment and amenities.

In the Review Phase, the planning team held interactive workshops to generate feedback from the Committee on concepts and alternatives. From this process, the plans for each campus were clarified. In the final Recommendations Phase, these plans were refined in order to develop the final Facilities Master Plan recommendations. Essential narratives, technical notes, additional graphics, cost estimates and implementation phasing strategies were developed to support the plan.

In the final Recommendation Phase, the Facilities Master Plan outlined multiple implementation projects for each campus. Many of the recommended improvements address facility needs common to all four campuses, such as overall campus layout and landscaping improvements, traffic/circulation enhancements, parking, entry definition, academic space expansion and the development of community/conference centers. Detailed implementation recommendations are examined in each specific campus chapter of this document.

Recommendations

Specific recommendations for the South Campus include the conversion of the existing Nursing Building into new classroom facilities, one new Academic Building, a new Administration and Student Services Building, a new Student Union Building, a new Heating/Air Conditioning Building, the relocation of the tennis courts and building services enhancements and expansions.

Recommendations for the Northeast Campus include the development of two new academic buildings, a new Student Union Building, new Administration Building, Student Services and Student Union facilities, public plaza enhancements, an expansion of the Library, a renovation of the Health and Physical Education Building, expansion of the Physical Warehouse building, and enhancements and expansions to building services.

Recommendations for the Northwest Campus include a new entry road off of the Loop 820 access road, a new Administrative Services/Academic Wing, renovation and expansion of the Student Union, renovation of the Health and Physical Education Building, improvements to the Criminal Justice and gun range facilities, renovation of the existing Administration Building, a new greenhouse, a Library expansion, building services enhancements and expansions, and recommendations for additional land acquisition north of the campus.

Recommendations for the Southeast Campus include the addition of a new Academic Wing and conference center, renovation and expansion of Health and Physical Education, a new Library addition, the conversion of the existing Library into a new Student Union space, an expansion of the Culinary Arts Kitchen, an expansion of Student Service facilities, renovation of the Bookstore loading area, and the incorporation of a new entrance.

Summary

The Facilities Master Plan is an instrument for future decision making. These recommendations do not establish an exact implementation schedule but establish a benchmark to meet changing conditions and available resources. General cost ranges have been provided to allow the District to make implementation decisions based on needs, timing and funding. As opportunities arise, projects may be needed to meet new requirements. When each new project is planned, detailed programming will need to be developed and site-specific strategies initiated for implementation.

This Facilities Master Plan should be considered a dynamic, “living document” that provides the goals and framework to meet the changing needs of the District. The planning team recommends that TCCD performs periodic updates and reviews every two to three years or at the end of each major implementation phase to ensure that the direction of the plan remains consistent with the goals of the District not only today, but well into the future.

Table of Contents Executive Summary Section 1: Introduction Introduction/Purpose Background/History Teams Project Approach/Process Section 2: District-Wide Goals Goal and Objectives Summary of Issues/Needs Recommendations Section 3: South Campus Introduction Data Gathering Interviews/Summary of Issues and Needs Analysis Existing Conditions Circulation Travel Distance Viewshed Greenspace Building Function Potential Parking Sites Potential Building Sites Repair Costs Space Planning Recommendations Recommendations 20-year Concept Plan Implementation SF Breakdown/Costs Section 4: Northeast Campus Introduction Data Gathering Interviews/Summary of Issues and Needs Analysis Existing Conditions Circulation Travel Distance Viewshed Greenspace Building Function Potential Parking Sites Potential Building Sites Repair Costs Space Planning Recommendations Recommendations 20-year Concept Plan Implementation SF Breakdown/Costs Section 5: Northwest Campus Introduction Data Gathering Interviews/Summary of Issues and Needs Analysis Existing Conditions Circulation Travel Distance Viewshed Greenspace Building Function Potential Parking Sites Potential Building Sites Repair Costs Space Planning Recommendations Recommendations 20-year Concept Plan Implementation SF Breakdown/Costs Section 6: Southeast Campus Introduction Data Gathering Interviews/Summary of Issues and Needs Analysis Existing Conditions Circulation Travel Distance Viewshed Greenspace Building Function Potential Parking Sites Potential Building Sites Repair Costs Space Planning Recommendations Recommendations 20-year Concept Plan Implementation SF Breakdown/Costs Appendix South Campus Survey Responses Northeast Campus Survey Responses Northwest Campus Survey Responses Southeast Campus Survey Responses	TCCD Home Master Plan Home Planning Documents Team Access

	Executive Summary In June, 2004, the firm of Freese and Nichols, Inc. was retained to develop a District-wide Facilities Master Plan to assist the Tarrant County College District (TCCD) in establishing a long-range planning framework to guide the District both during the present period of growth and well into the future. This Facilities Master Plan presents an organized approach that will assist District decision-makers in the development of aesthetically pleasing campuses that provide a state-of-the-art learning environment. The ultimate goal of the plan is to help TCCD conserve and enhance its resources and to improve and sustain the environmental and academic quality of each campus for faculty, staff, students and visitors. The recommendations of this plan reflect the countless hours of participation and contribution from Tarrant County College District’s Facility Master Plan Committee, faculty, staff, students and community leaders. The document was developed within the context of numerous concurrent planning and design activities. Process The project approach adopted by the Planning Team and the Master Plan Committee is a systematic process that includes Data Gathering, Analysis, Review and Recommendations. The Data Gathering Phase included multiple interview sessions with faculty, staff, students and community leaders, supplemented with Web-based questionnaires and a campus-by-campus facilities inventory. The District provided the team with a thorough facility condition assessment that was conducted by 3DI. During the Analysis Phase, the Planning Team determined opportunities, constraints, strengths and weaknesses by qualifying and evaluating the data collected. Existing physical conditions were studied incrementally, including circulation, pedestrian travel distances, important viewsheds, green space, building function and parking. Potential building sites, repair and replacement costs and functional space planning characteristics were considered for each campus. Maps generated for the study of these aspects were used to convey essential information to the Committee. Conclusions and decisions from these studies were used to generate conceptual plans. District-wide goals and objectives were defined by the Planning Team and the Committee to guide the development of the plan. The primary goals include the improvement of the overall campus image and the functionality of its facilities, the enhancement of the student experience, and the strengthening of overall campus security. Another important goal is to position TCCD for future growth and expansion. Within the context of these District-wide goals and objectives, further issues and needs were addressed. These included specific campus security initiatives, enhanced signage and wayfinding, improved transportation and elimination of circulation conflicts, parking elements, life safety and accessibility measures, improved campus layout and landscaping, enhancement of student services, incorporation of physical plant service upgrades and expansion and provision of various campus equipment and amenities. In the Review Phase, the planning team held interactive workshops to generate feedback from the Committee on concepts and alternatives. From this process, the plans for each campus were clarified. In the final Recommendations Phase, these plans were refined in order to develop the final Facilities Master Plan recommendations. Essential narratives, technical notes, additional graphics, cost estimates and implementation phasing strategies were developed to support the plan. In the final Recommendation Phase, the Facilities Master Plan outlined multiple implementation projects for each campus. Many of the recommended improvements address facility needs common to all four campuses, such as overall campus layout and landscaping improvements, traffic/circulation enhancements, parking, entry definition, academic space expansion and the development of community/conference centers. Detailed implementation recommendations are examined in each specific campus chapter of this document. Recommendations Specific recommendations for the South Campus include the conversion of the existing Nursing Building into new classroom facilities, one new Academic Building, a new Administration and Student Services Building, a new Student Union Building, a new Heating/Air Conditioning Building, the relocation of the tennis courts and building services enhancements and expansions. Recommendations for the Northeast Campus include the development of two new academic buildings, a new Student Union Building, new Administration Building, Student Services and Student Union facilities, public plaza enhancements, an expansion of the Library, a renovation of the Health and Physical Education Building, expansion of the Physical Warehouse building, and enhancements and expansions to building services. Recommendations for the Northwest Campus include a new entry road off of the Loop 820 access road, a new Administrative Services/Academic Wing, renovation and expansion of the Student Union, renovation of the Health and Physical Education Building, improvements to the Criminal Justice and gun range facilities, renovation of the existing Administration Building, a new greenhouse, a Library expansion, building services enhancements and expansions, and recommendations for additional land acquisition north of the campus. Recommendations for the Southeast Campus include the addition of a new Academic Wing and conference center, renovation and expansion of Health and Physical Education, a new Library addition, the conversion of the existing Library into a new Student Union space, an expansion of the Culinary Arts Kitchen, an expansion of Student Service facilities, renovation of the Bookstore loading area, and the incorporation of a new entrance. Summary The Facilities Master Plan is an instrument for future decision making. These recommendations do not establish an exact implementation schedule but establish a benchmark to meet changing conditions and available resources. General cost ranges have been provided to allow the District to make implementation decisions based on needs, timing and funding. As opportunities arise, projects may be needed to meet new requirements. When each new project is planned, detailed programming will need to be developed and site-specific strategies initiated for implementation. This Facilities Master Plan should be considered a dynamic, “living document” that provides the goals and framework to meet the changing needs of the District. The planning team recommends that TCCD performs periodic updates and reviews every two to three years or at the end of each major implementation phase to ensure that the direction of the plan remains consistent with the goals of the District not only today, but well into the future.
This Online Master Plan was designed and developed by Freese and Nichols, Inc. Online Services