WCU Campus Master Plan

Embracing its vision to be a beacon of student learning and engagement, Western Carolina University (WCU) has strategically updated its Campus Master Plan to reinforce its role as a vital regional institution. Building upon the success of its 2014 master plan, WCU collaborated again with Hanbury in 2021 to refine its blueprint for the future, incorporating extensive feedback from the campus community.

The revised plan advances WCU's strategic goals through a sustainable lens, focusing on optimizing existing infrastructure, promoting multi-modal connectivity, and preserving the natural beauty of its mountainous setting. Central to the plan is preparing for an anticipated surge in enrollment, necessitating over 500,000 square feet of new space to support this growth.

Efforts concentrate on three pivotal areas: enhancing core academic and student life zones to maximize infrastructure use and foster collaboration; revitalizing the Cullowhee Creek Corridor for recreational and ecological purposes; and bridging the East and West campuses to encourage unity and sustainable development.

Key accomplishments from the original plan include the creation of three residential communities, expansion of dining facilities, establishment of a new science building and parking structure, and enhancement of numerous outdoor spaces. A new mixed-use student residential area introduces a vibrant "main street" atmosphere, effectively integrating academic and social hubs into a dynamic central artery, connecting the Upper and Central Campus with ground-level retail and dining.