[BCXtreme]

Now that Commons 1 is actually finished, I would think they'll take their time on Commons 2 and the other new dorms that are slowly going to replace what's left of the Circle.

You haven't been around Liberty very long, have you? (That's rhetorical, I know you haven't.)

Liberty wants to expand their enrollment. The last year or two indicates they want to do this as fast as possible, quality be darned. I predict they will be completing and filling each new dorm building as quickly as possible. Although, unless they plan to start opening new dorms mid-year, the construction window on Commons II will probably be longer by default. I don't see them opening it for Fall 2015.

Some time ago: they said that they were trying to slightly outpace enrollment with housing so that the campus wouldn't have to be at 100% capacity all the time. Reality: they expanded the campus by hundreds of beds this semester with a building that barely got its CO in time to open, and filled every single one immediately with a record incoming class.

Some time ago: they said that they would be proceeding slowly through the remaining Commons buildings one at a time, starting Commons II this year and building the rest "as necessary." Reality: they barely broke ground on Commons II and are already planning to start Commons III next summer.

[BCXtreme]

Quick heads up everyone: The Fall 2014 Liberty Journal has FINALLY landed, and yes, according to my information it does have what we've all been waiting for: a new Master Plan diagram. I'll pick up a copy on campus later today and you'll be hearing from me soon after.

[ATrain]

Your report is due by midnight tonight...and that's Eastern time, not Central where I'm currently located.

[LUminary]

Went searching for the equestrian center last week while in the 'burg with some extra time. Could't find it, but did stumble across the new LU golf clubhouse on Lone Jack Road. Very nice. Snapped a couple of photos but for some reason can't download them. Operator error, no doubt. Anyhow, where is the horse place? Near there?

[Sly Fox]

Up off of Sunnymeade. It is actually a very cool set-up.

[Cider Jim]

My understanding is that our equestrian center is right next door to our new observatory with all those fancy, high-powered telescopes: http://www.liberty.edu/marketingdepartm ... MID=129684

[BCXtreme]

There's actually not much for me to say. Here's the new Master Plan. It mostly matches the model JFJR shared. Our earlier speculation on that basis was generally correct, based on this. The Journal does not have any architectural renderings. I don't recall seeing any new information in the accompanying article, other than that JFJR thinks they are closing in on a Master Plan worthy of a "final" stamp. I'll get a better version of the map online once the digital edition of the Journal is available. Also, the Journals have already gone out in the mail, so many of you will probably get it soon.

[Flamesfanva]

The ice rink expansion will be welcome. Although I have thought that location would be a great spot for a football indoor practice facility and put the ice rink somewhere else.

[Cider Jim]

LU is also expanding its academics, with many new deans announced today:

http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=131764

[BCXtreme]

The News & Advance also has an article on the revised plan, which includes some timeframes. The article clarifies that both the current bookstore building and Doc's Diner will remain intact, although the bookstore building will be converted to other uses. The bookstore functions will move into the Campus Landmark Tower.

JFJR mentioned in the interview that the ultimate goal is to make the Vines Center exclusively a convocation center, on account of its limited parking options. I have long thought that should be the case.

[Flamesfanva]

The article clarifies that both the current bookstore building and Doc's Diner will remain intact, although the bookstore building will be converted to other uses.

An Alumni Hall would be a good use of the current bookstore.

[Cider Jim]

The paper version of The News and Advance has a different and much better title: "Building a New Liberty."

[BCXtreme]

The paper version of The News and Advance has a different and much better title: "Building a New Liberty."

And front-page headline too, nice.

I was reviewing the East Campus section of the new plan, and it appears the new structure on the south end of East is a parking garage. In fact, the construction of more parking garages around the campus appears to allow them to turn a lot of existing lots into buildings or green space, which I like. Always seemed a shame to me that they had to jam parking spaces into every open area on the campus.

[Cider Jim]

I couldn't wait for the mail to run, so I drove to the Food Lion in Forest to pick up my latest edition of the Liberty Journal. The first 9 pages are devoted to the new med school.

[BCXtreme]

By the way, the new plan refers to the new buildings near the South Tower as the "South Residential Quad." That probably means that the "3,500-bed residential quad" VMDO referred to is that area, not the dorms they're designing near the Commons as I previously thought.

[BCXtreme]

Now that the Liberty Journal is online, I've extracted a high-resolution digital image of the new Master Plan for your responsible consumption, at least until the Master Plan page on Liberty's website is updated (if it ever is).

In other news, a few days ago Liberty submitted the building permit application for the DeMoss Student Center (i.e., Campus Center, DeMoss expansion, etc.). Last I heard, they were to begin laying foundations this month.

[PAmedic]

I dig that pedestrian greenway. very nice

and it looks like JR loves him some parking garages now that the floodgates have opened

[SuperJon]

Wow.

[flamehunter]

BC- Are residence halls A, B, and C existing or to be built?

[Sly Fox]

Here is a version of the master plan map that fits in the dimension limitations of our FF software:

[BCXtreme]

I dig that pedestrian greenway. very nice

and it looks like JR loves him some parking garages now that the floodgates have opened

Thankfully. I always hated that Liberty felt the need to cram parking lots into every acre of open space on their campus, yet parking garages were "too unattractive and expensive." The new garage looks great, and I've seen plenty of upscale-looking garages at other schools. The effect of eliminating so many parking lots in favor of perimeter garages will be tremendous for overall campus appearance and beauty.

BC- Are residence halls A, B, and C existing or to be built?

A and C are all to be built in the future. B is what appears to be current dorms M25 and M26 with an expansion connecting them, plus a new, third building of that same style. A Liberty official said back in August that there would not be any immediate construction on South Campus, so I'm guessing those plans are at least a year or two out.

[4everfsu]

And still no plans for the college of engineering.

[bluedevilflame]

So B&N/student store is getting torn down?

[flamehunter]

No I think that I read that they will convert that to academic use.

[BCXtreme]

And still no plans for the college of engineering.

That's not necessarily true. There are three academic buildings on that plan that aren't yet identified. Any of those could be an engineering building. We already know one will be a communication building. In the meantime, I believe engineering got a significantly expanded space in DeMoss this semester, with new special equipment.