Thirteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

University campuses are often a vital part of the city and an essential place for community activities. The best use of resources is obtained when university campuses interact directly with and enhance social and learning experiences of students. As such, this study reflects on the demand and supply of student needs and experiences balanced through price mechanism. To achieve satisfactory design based on cost, universities rely on master planning studies to guide campus development decisions through assessing and prizing the tangible and intangible factors. This paper shows different design trends and configurations of Campus Outdoor Spaces (COS) and potential impacts and costs. To achieve more graduates who are more aware and engaged citizens who increases the university reputation/ranking and satisfaction levels, The study (1) Adopts standards in COS design obtained by desk research as a measure of outcome indicators for benchmarking. (2) Assesses to what level/s the standard design qualities are equivalent to university market through a multi-criterion cost-benefit analysis tool; and, 3) Tests and validates the tool in selected, typical case studies among California State via an application of in-depth Interview method - ten representatives of California State universities and top private colleges. Findings from the testing phase allow revising and improving the assessment tool, leading to finalize it as a useful instrument used to depict common design features in multiple development scenarios (interactive, communal, instructive, or energetic COS).