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University of Oregon East Campus Lands Land-Use Applications February 23, 2004 City Council Public Hearing Public Testimony #1 Submitted by: Rich Linton, Vice President'for Research and Graduate Studies, University of Oregon, 207 Johnson Hall University. Mission: Expansion is Essential As chair of.the university's Space Committee, I am keenly aware that the university's space needs are substantial, yet available on-campus space is practically non-existent for a variety of necessary academic and support functions. These needs undoubtedly will continue to increase, despite significant on-campus development during the past 20 years. In fall 2002 the university reached an enrollment in excess of 20,000 students for the first time in its 125-year history. Since 1980 the university has added some 834,000 gross square feet of new space on the main campus. This brings the total developed space to 4.7 million gross square feet. This development provides classroom space for an enrollment of 20,000. However, it does not adequately provide for the related support facilities such as administrative and technical services, research space, and student housing. We have been lagging behind in meeting such needs on campus due to either budgetary or space limitations. Increasingly, faculty research programs and associated institutes or centers sUpported with federal grant dollars are being housed in off- campus locations. The limited lands available in the campus's academic core must be preserved for instructional facilities to enable students to reach their classes within the allocated ten- minute break. The main campus simply does not have room to accommodate both the projected instructional needs AND support services without adversely affecting the existing development pattern and preservation of open space. However, the support services must be located in close proximity to the central campus to: · preserve critical connections to both instructional and research activities, and · implement the university's policy of encouraging walking and biking. Using university lands in the East Campus Area is an obvious SOlution. We know of about 275,000 gross square feet that could be appropriately located there. As the university grows, these uses are projected to increase by an additional 325,000 gross square feet. It is essential that the proposed amendments be put into place now to allow the university to plan for its future needs, thus ensuring a strong and vital university for many years to come. Thank you. City Council Agenda page 271