Temple's Plans

The Inky today had an interesting piece on Temple University's future plans. This is important for several reasons, they being that the University has several pieces of abominable pieces of Brutalism on campus that need replacing (Beury, Barton, and the Life Sciences Building, and the Paley Library), and because the University wishes to shift the center of the University west to Broad. Currently, it's centered on the Bell Tower plaza; almost every undergrad must pass through it or around it at some point almost every single school day. This plaza, between 12th and 13th and along Berks, is well to the east of Broad, which is effectively the University's western periphery, and for commuters (although not dormers), a major blockage of access to the sports fields that cover almost all the University's western half.

The beginning of the article states:

Entering her fourth year as Temple University's president, Ann Weaver Hart soon will unveil what could become her signature project: making Broad Street the focal point of the university.

She envisions an eye-catching flagship library - a new academic soul for Temple that would be accessible to both neighborhood residents and students. Also in the plan, soon to be unveiled as part of the university's recognition of its 125th anniversary, are a high-rise residence hall and a spacious student center that may or may not be part of the library, both along the Broad Street corridor.

The campus center then would get a "big green space."

"We want to bring our students out of the neighborhood and onto Broad Street," Hart said one afternoon last month during a tour of the North Philadelphia school she has led since July 2006.

"So, over the next 10 years, you will see us focusing on student life, on recreation and development, on study centers, and on these buildings right on Broad Street. That's where I believe we can advance the vision of Philadelphia and its recovery and development."

University officials declined to reveal the price tag, how they planned to pay for it, or other details of the plan, dubbed Temple 2020, which has been endorsed by the Board of Trustees. Hart's administration will release the blueprint after the state budget is passed and current financing is clearer.

During a recent interview, Hart described how she would like to make the school more visible from the city's main artery and reflected on the challenges she has faced running the nearly 37,000-student college.

And the end finishes:

The Broad Street area near Temple has been undergoing a revitalization. There are a movie theater and plans for a major supermarket.

The university is remodeling the Baptist Temple into a performance center, a $26.4 million project. It's part of more than $500 million in improvements at Temple over the last several years, including a seven-story addition to the Fox School of Business; a 250,000-square-foot technology center; a 13-story, just-opened medical school building; and the relocation of Tyler from Ambler to the main campus.

Under the plan, the size of the 105-acre campus, home to 27,000 students, would not change. It would grow vertically, with taller buildings and converted existing space.

The plan includes a science building in the center of campus, with Barton Hall, bordered by Norris, 13th and Montgomery Streets, converted into green space. Renovations to Pearson-McGonigle halls on Broad, largely athletic facilities, are on tap, too.

A high-rise student residence would go up on Broad.

The new library, across from the Baptist Temple, would replace a parking lot. A parking terrace would be built elsewhere on campus to replace those spaces.

Some community leaders are enthusiastic.

"As long as they have a working relationship with the community, I don't have a problem with that plan," said State Rep. Jewell Williams (D., Phila.), chair of the Philadelphia legislative delegation.

In an effort to be more inviting to the neighborhood, the university is removing iron fencing around its boundaries.

City Councilman Darrell Clarke, who represents the area, said he was concerned about parking and students living off campus. He's proposing a city law to penalize landlords if they have unruly tenants. He said he held off last year at Temple's request.

"Somebody has to be responsible," he said.

In general, Hart said, the university will look to be "a good neighbor.

"The more Temple can be visible there," she said, "the more we can have signature buildings on Broad Street, the more we can contribute to the physical attractiveness, the more we can get our students shopping at commercial space there and living there and studying there, the more we will be able to create that environment that we envision over the next 10 to 15 years and do it as good neighbors."