Drexel University

In the university’s own words, “Drexel is an academically comprehensive and globally engaged urban research university dedicated to advancing knowledge and society and to providing every student with a valuable, rigorous, experiential, technology-infused education, enriched by the nation's premier co-operative education program.” 

Founded in 1891 with the establishment of the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, Drexel was originally a non-degree-granting institution. It began conferring bachelor of science degrees in 1914, when its 18 departments were organized into four schools. Throughout many changes and much growth in the intervening years, today more than 24,000 students are enrolled in 100+ undergraduate programs and over 200 graduate programs across 16 colleges, schools, and centers.

The 2012 master plan was developed in tandem with Drexel’s new strategic plan, “Transforming the Modern Urban University,” with the goal of determining how Drexel could expand its impact on the world, and what types of spaces would support that goal.

The key principles of the plan were to distinguish the campus as a vibrant modern urban university district; bring the campus to the street; draw the community together around shared spaces; and expand the innovation community.

Meliora provided civil engineering support as one of ten firms collaborating on this major, year-long effort. Within our scope of services, we made recommendations related to site issues, utilities, and zoning and approvals for future projects. We also developed campus-wide stormwater planning recommendations to integrate sustainable measures into the existing campus layout and landscape and establish policies that would guide future development.

Awards
Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), Award for Excellence in Planning for an Existing Campus, 2012