Master Plan Area
The plan proposes mixed-use residential and retail village across Synergy Parkway at the north end of campus that would include office space, a research park, technology museum, theater, event center, conference hotel and open public spaces.
UT Dallas’ master plan for a mixed-use development near the proposed Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Station on the Cotton Belt Rail Line has earned a Dream Study Award from the Greater Dallas Planning Council.
The award, which recognizes an unbuilt project that displays sustainability efforts in the planning process, was presented jointly to UT Dallas and the city of Richardson during the council’s annual Urban Design Awards ceremony on Dec. 5. The council has recognized excellence in local urban planning and design for the last decade.
The UT Dallas North Campus Transit-Oriented Development master plan proposes a mixed-use residential and retail village across Synergy Parkway at the north end of campus that would include office space, a research park, technology museum, theater, event center, conference hotel and open public spaces.
Begun in fall 2008, the master plan is a collaborative effort between UT Dallas, the city of Richardson and DART to enhance the University’s campus life and to provide an anchor for new economic development surrounding the usage of the transit system. The proposed UT Dallas DART Station would link the campus to DFW International Airport and be the focal point of the land development.
Rick Dempsey, associate vice president for facilities management, said the award recognizes key aspects of community development, including the cooperative efforts between the University and the city of Richardson.
“The award recognizes the vision of the University in leveraging its physical location for the future,” Dempsey said.
The proposed UT Dallas DART Station would link the campus to DFW International Airport and be the focal point of the land development.
Housing would include a variety of residential styles for faculty, staff, students and the general public. Retail plans focus on a mix of campus-oriented uses such as restaurants, coffee shops, small bookstores, and gift and apparel shops that would accommodate the needs of UT Dallas visitors and the nearby tollway commercial corridor. The conference hotel and event center would host tournaments, robotic events, seminar and speaker series and concerts.
“We want faculty, staff and students to be integrated into the surrounding community,” said Vice President for Administration Dr. Calvin Jamison. “This plan addresses that goal.”
The master plan also includes sustainability elements such as efficient growth, pedestrian design, environmental stewardship and resource efficiency. Jacobs Engineering Group and Ragsdale Consulting, which specializes in traffic engineering, helped develop the master plan.
The Greater Dallas Planning Council was established in 1946 by a group of Dallas business and civic leaders. The founders agreed to form an independent municipal research bureau to study city problems, determine solutions and present them to the public and officials for action. Its focus today is urban design and planning, transportation and water resources.