How open spaces contribute to the experience of the UCSD Campus Environment.
The University of California, San Diego has employed an integrated campus planning since its inauguration in 1960. The formal plans which include the Long Range Development and Academic Plan, not only the key goals of academic and auxiliary programs, but also provides a comprehensive physical design concepts. The design concepts have guided the transformation of the main campus site into an excellent research university. The university was formerly a military training base. The identity of UC San Diego is clearly connected to its setting and availability of open spaces. Major Eucalyptus stands covering 118-acre stretch from the campus border to the north and to the southern end of Oceanography campus, offer a valuable aesthetic supply on campus.
A successful implementation of the plan has led to development of quite a number of open spaces including Pawka Green at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Academic Court at Warren College, and the Library Walk. These open spaces essentially present opportunities to secure certain memorable experiences. The experiences comprise both the casual forms of social interactions as well as the planned programs. Thus, it is important to acknowledge the superb experience that a researcher goes through in this institution of higher learning at San Diego. The open spaces also serve as unifying elements that knit the campus together. Factors such as precise landscape requirements, recommended dimensions and the intended purpose of an open space characterize planning studies of the key open spaces. Further, the design of open spaces should comply with the standards set for UC San Diego in the design program and planning.
The primary focus is the Library Walk. It is a space open to member of the public usually acting as access way for movement. Administrative units, recognized campus staff and student organizations, academic departments and any registered campus organizations, use the Library Walk. The Walk must always be clear of any form of obstacle. The University Centers have been given the mandate and authority to ensuring proper use of the facility. The Library Walk extends from the northern edge of the sidewalk that is adjacent to Gilman Drive to dentil in front of Geisel Library on the north end. This Walk provides access to pedestrian, used for socializing, resting shortly and any other legal activities acknowledged by the institution.
The dentils are the concrete structures architecturally designed for seating. They are located along the western periphery of the Library Walk. However, there are reserved spaces of the Library Walk disallowed for transitory use. Only the Price Center Reservation Desk can issue permission to those intending to use the Information Table, used for sole purpose of disseminating information. Events like amplified sound, food distribution, sales promotion of a particular product, open flames and motorized equipment should not be used in spaces that are reserved for an Information Table. However, individuals as well as groups may hold events that comply with the permitted uses as well as those in compliance with the policy and laws applicable.
Just like the Price Centre as described by Lang, Jones (2005), the Library Walk has accomplished most of the intended purposes courtesy of the clearly defined policies and legal procedures upon infringement of the rules. The facility has successfully boosted events happening, social interactions through provision of dentil and transitory usage. However, there is a concern about the future expansion of campus, which might lead to destruction of part or the whole of the Library Walk with the growing demand for university education.
