This class has been rescheduled due to earlier cancellation due to weather.

As Michigan entered the second half of the 20th century, its campus was in the midst of a transition from the 40-acre parcel of the 19th century to a larger and technologically more complex campus. In 1963 a new planning approach was developed that was much better suited to the realities of higher education in the post-World War II era. This approach transformed the campus from a loosely organized, unattractive setting with numerous functional and organizational problems to the more coherent, functional, and attractive campus of today.

This two hour presentation will focus on the key role played by open space, circulation systems, and community interface as well as architecture to achieve the desired outcome – a functional, well organized, pedestrian-oriented, and aesthetically harmonious campus. The emphasis will be on the implementation process and how the desired results were obtained, rather than theories of campus planning or the personalities involved. It will give insight into how the campus plan was translated into a physical reality.

Instructor Fred Mayer served for 37 years as the Campus Planner for the University of Michigan. The two hour presentation for those 50 and over will be held on Wednesday, March 13, from 10 am to 12 pm.