Little
Catawba College
Campus Master Plan
Salisbury, North Carolina
Project Type
Higher Education
Size
Campus Master Plan
Design Services
Planning
Catawba College reimagines its campus to support a vibrant academic community and evolving student experience.
Catawba College partnered with Little to develop a comprehensive Campus Master Plan that would guide the institution’s growth and evolution over the next decade and beyond. Building on the momentum of the College’s newly adopted Strategic Plan, the Master Plan addresses a wide range of opportunities and challenges across the campus—ranging from aging infrastructure and space utilization to enhancing student life and supporting future academic delivery models. Recognizing the importance of a holistic and inclusive approach, the planning process was grounded in meaningful engagement with a broad spectrum of campus stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and administration.
The resulting Master Plan reflects a shared vision for a vibrant, cohesive, and sustainable campus that supports the evolving needs of the Catawba community. It outlines a phased strategy to align physical improvements with institutional goals, while also identifying priority projects that offer early opportunities for impact. Among these is a study for a potential new residence hall to support anticipated enrollment growth and student housing preferences. However, the core focus remains on long-term, campus-wide transformation that advances both the mission and the identity of the College.
Strategy for the Future
The overarching goal of the Campus Master Plan was to create a forward-looking, actionable roadmap that aligns physical development with Catawba College’s strategic vision.
A key priority was to enhance the student experience through improvements to the academic environment, housing, student life amenities, and the public realm. The plan also sought to support faculty and staff through upgraded workplace and instructional spaces, while promoting a stronger sense of community and belonging for all.
Long-Term Thinking
A guiding principle throughout the process was the advancement of sustainability—both environmental and operational.
This included exploring opportunities to improve energy efficiency, reduce the College’s carbon footprint, and invest in infrastructure that supports long-term resilience. The plan also aimed to reinforce campus identity and visibility by improving arrival sequences, signage, and wayfinding, as well as creating a more consistent and navigable physical environment. Finally, the Master Plan emphasized the importance of strengthening Catawba’s connection to the broader Salisbury community through open space enhancements, accessibility improvements, and thoughtful development at campus edges.
Planning for Possibility
The result of the planning effort is a campus master plan that serves as a responsive, inclusive, and actionable framework for the future of Catawba College.
It identifies opportunities for near- and long-term improvements across academic, residential, and student life areas and provides clear implementation strategies to guide future decision-making. The plan positions the college to thoughtfully evolve its campus in a way that enhances community, fosters student success, and strengthens its competitive edge.
