Reworked Master Plan Receives Rave Reviews

September 8th, 2006

Presenters received an ovation following a briefing on the revised Master Plan at a recent lunch-time gathering of faculty and staff. Everyone expressed deep appreciation to Randy Jones, director of campus planning, and local architect David VanHoy. The group also praised the revised campus plan which has been winning support from neighbors and county decision makers.

Westmont returns to the Montecito Board of Architectural Review with its revised proposal on Monday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. in the Montecito Community Hall & Library. A meeting with the Montecito Planning Commission has also been set for Monday, Oct. 18, at 9 a.m. The architectural team held two public briefings on campus  Thursday, Sept. 7, and will hold another roundtable briefing for the public Wednesday, Sept. 13.

The reworked Master Plan uses several impressive architectural features that highlight the historic Kerrwood gardens and other open space. The architectural team has designed the buildings in an environmentally friendly way by utilizing the existing palette of building materials on campus such as Santa Barbara sandstone. The new “green” buildings will descend from the library. The layering affect will enhance views while maximizing natural light and ventilation. The tops of the new roofs will contain a section of weathered copper and be surrounded by low-growing vegetation. All this will help blend the buildings into the existing landscape.

Many of the larger buildings have been moved east, away from neighbors and are in compliance with new Montecito height limitations.

“Instead of stacking the buildings, we’ve sensitively arranged them for their functionality and architecture,” says VanHoy.