Lander Bl e u sVol. 2 Issue 7.November 2014

A Master Flop?Examining the Progress of Lander University’s Master Plan

A Magazine for Students

The Campus Master Plan began with the intro-duction of Centennial Hall in the early 2000s, when the plan went into effect. At a State of the

University in 2011, President Daniel Ball, focused his ideas on the academic and economic development of the university. A Lander news release, cited that the “new master plan would guide the university for the next 10 to 20 years.” Ball’s plan would bring new housing and academic facilities to accommodate the growth in student enrollment. Be-ing the most selective school in South Carolina meant the need to grow as a campus and appeal to incoming freshman, international students and other Lander Uni-versity prospects.

The school hired the Boudreaux Group to facilitate the master plan. Boudreaux gathered a group of 15 indi-viduals, from Lander students, Greenwood businesses and economic leaders from the area to take part in a fo-cus group to collaborate on what would become the final master plan. The focus group proposi-tioned enhancing the campus plaza, branding the historical structures on currently on cam-pus, a university center, more green space and new dormitories.

In March of this year, Lander broke the grounds for the con-struction of a new campus resi-dence hall. The building is part of the university’s master plan.

The PEES circle has been de-molished. This too is part of the university’s master plan. The de-molition of the area is paving the

way for the proposed circular entry drive and foun-tain green. The current construction project has in-conveniently misplaced Lander students from their normal routes from their dorms to class or caused complications with parking across campus.

All three phases of Lander’s master plan can be found on the university’s homepage. Though it does seem like there is a long stretch left, renovation and a fresh campus atmo-sphere is headed to Lander.

The focus group propositioned enhancing the campus plaza, branding the historical structures on currently on campus, a university center, more green space and new dormitories.

Being the most selective school in South Carolina meant the need to grow as a campus and appeal to incoming freshman, interspects.

The PEES circle has been demolished.

Constructing A New, Fresh Start for the UniversityThe Phases of Change

Phase III construction on the residence halls set to be complete by Fall 2015

Big changes to come at Lander, starting with the Chandler Center! For years students have com-plained about the quality of the weight room,

gym hours and lack of programs. The director of the campus recre-

ation department, Matt Gilstrap, seeks to change all this. You may have al-ready noticed the new floor in the bas-ketball gym that was redone this sum-mer.

As for the intramural program Mr. Kline comments “We are attempting to expand on all programming, includ-ing the edition of sports and holding sports simultaneously. This will allow for longer intramural seasons!” Stu-dents can sign up for free intramurals by visiting “imleagues.com.”

The Chandler Center has also moved on to increase its hours of op-erations< including hours on Friday nights and Satur-day afternoons now.

The biggest complaint about the Chandler Center was that of the Weight Room. Starting next semester,

Lander will have a brand new weight room, with brand new equipment.

“This new weight room will be approximately 8,000 square feet, including all new cardio pieces that will have a row of televisions hanging from the ceiling” says Mr. Gilstrap.

“The weight room will include a spin room for cycling classes as well as a classroom for logging notes and may even have a computer for track-ing workouts.”

With all new equipment students will finally enjoy the weight room without the old hassles of the past weight room.

Some other changes to come are a possible guest pass policy and group exercise programs such as ZUMBA which have already +began!

“The weight room will include a spin room for cy-cling classes as well as a classroom for logging notes and may even have a computer for tracking work-outs.”

A Weight of Changes, Out with the OldLander’s Weight Room

“We are attempting to expand on all programming, including the

edition of sports and holding sports

simultaneously.”-Matthew Gilstrap,

Director of Campus Recreation

Free Personal Trainer with Student ID

Located at:

462 S Carolina 72 Business, Greenwood, SC 29649

(864) 227-6900Open M-F, 24HRS

Free WIFI

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The Year 2000 Master Plan revealed a plan that consisted of four entities. The plan did not rec-ommend phasing, that decision was left up to the

University as initiatives and funding were identified. The Master Plan merely shows what “could be”. How-ever, the ever constant decision of the source of fund-ing dictated a phasing sequence to achieve the multi-component project.

The first phase consisted of building the entrance drive from Montague Avenue, across the intersection of Stanley Avenue, and terminating at the intersec-tion of Willson Street.

The prior entrance to Lander University was known as Crews Street. The new entrance road, known as the Boulevard yet still unofficially named in honor of anything related to the school, was constructed parallel to Crews Street.

The only remnant of Crews Street that exists today is the portion that extends from Willson Street to Gen-esis Hall.

The Phasing of the Master Plan consisted of the following:

1. Phase I – The new entrance road extending from Montague Avenue, through the Stanley Avenue intersection, and terminating at Willson Street (at Barratt Hall).

2. Phase II – The construction of the parking lots that are located to the left and right of the new entrance road. The parking lots extend from Willson Street to Stanley Avenue.

3. Phase III – The construction of the brick and granite walls and fountains adjacent to Mon-tague Avenue.

4. Phase IV – The construction of the ra-dius road that extends from Willson Street, past Barratt Hall on your right, past the Carnell Learn-ing Center, past the Cultural Center, past the PEES Building, past the Horne Arena, and again termi-

nating at Willson Street. (I will attach a artistic rendering). Construction should conclude by April 2015.

5. Phase IV (part II) – The construction of a new student plaza… (the area between the Carnell Learning Center, Jackson Library, Grier Student Center, and the Cultural

Center). Lander University is having to secure state approval to increase the project budget to allow the Phase IV –part II to commence. The uni-versity would like to perform this portion of con-struction during the summer of 2015.

The first phase consisted of building the entrance drive from Montague Avenue, across the intersection of Stanley Avenue, and terminating at the intersec-tion of Willson Street. The prior entrance to Lander University was known as Crews Street. The new entrance road, known as the Boulevard yet still un-officially named in honor of anything related to the school, was constructed parallel to Crews Street.

On the Path to a Greener Phase with Jeff BeaverThe Current State of Progress

A recent update on construction

blue print

The new look for a wellness center

A front view at the 500 bed dormitory

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