Howard University announces wide ranging building program

Not unironically after a multi-week campus sit in protesting the lack of quality in dorm accommodations ("Rats, mold, roaches: Howard students stage sit-in over housing conditions," Guardian), Howard University has just announced a major building program ("Howard University announces historic $785 million investment in new buildings, renovations," Washington Post).

Photo: Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press.

I think it's great.  I hope that one element will be addressing the problem with the dormitories, which in part is fallout from outsourcing and should be a lesson that outsourcing can create more problems than it solves.

Over the years I've written about related issues:

-- University-driven revitalization

-- "Naturally occurring technology districts" with Georgia Avenue and nearby universities as an example

-- Howard University's hospital issues (they created a management contract with Washington Adventist Hospital system, offloading the associated costs and risks, with the aim of eventually selling to them the hospital)

-- ideas by Temple University journalism professor George Miller about how HBCUs can better serve center cities ("The other George Miller idea: creating multi-college innovation centers in (cities) Philadelphia | Creating public library-college education centers as revitalization initiatives" and "HBCUs and the city: Relocating Cheyney University to Philadelphia" -- be sure to read the comments for additional resources).

Connecting better to the community.  The building expansion program also provides an opportunity for the university to connect better to the city outside of the campus.

Map of Howard University Campus, by Mary Belcher, 11"x14"

As someone (yes a white guy) who lived in DC for 32 years, I thought it was unfortunate that the campus is hidden behind Georgia Avenue. Granted, colleges are cloisters and designed to be separate.

When I would bike to Downtown via 4th Street, I always appreciated the backside of the campus and wished that the city would have redesigned the street in asphalt block to make it connect better to the campus and tame the traffic.

But wow, the college core campus is gorgeous and it's a shame more people don't know about it, aren't aware of it.

(I only used the HU college library once or twice in my 32 years, and never, to my chagrin, went to see the Moorland-Spingarn archives). 

I do think the university should think about how to increase connections to the area around the campus, through wayfinding and cultural interpretation signage programs, including directional signage to and from Georgia Avenue, campus architectural tours, marketing the culture better to the wider community (e.g., I love the Cramton Auditorium that is a somewhat art deco building), etc.  

-- "World Usability Day and Urban Planning," 2017

-- Wayfinding and Signage at UCSD, Selbert Perkins Design

-- Newcastle University wayfinding, FW Design

-- "New signs aim to share Clemson University's 'complete' history," Anderson Independent Mail

Cultural history interpretation sign, Martin Luther College

Outdoor public art at Newcastle University.

For example, a couple years ago I came across an old article "New 'Discover' guide highlights the cultural gems which are part and parcel of Newcastle University," ) about how Newcastle University produced a guidebook to the cultural resources on its campus, including public art, architecture, events, facilities, books/libraries, and objects.

Unfortunately, the guide is not available online, but it's a great example of how universities can better promote such resources beyond the strict population of the campus.

Table of contents from Newcastle University Discover Guide

Similarly, Waseda University in Tokyo is repositioning its campus cultural resources as available to all, that the university is a steward and promoter of such resources.  

One example at Waseda is its new library and cultural center devoted to the work of author Haruki Murakami ("Peek inside Waseda University’s brand new Haruki Murakami library," Lithub).