IV. The Plan to Meet the University's Facilities Needs C. District Development Plans Northeast District This district is bounded by Campus Creek to the north, Paint Branch to the east, Regents Drive to the west and the farm beyond Regents Drive, and Campus Drive to the south. Campus Drive, Azalea Lane/Paint Branch Drive, and Regents Drive are all major vehicular access routes to and through the campus. The engineering building, mathematics building and physics building combined form a "face" for this district onto Campus Drive and overlooking the engineering fields. Other than this "face" and the North Gate entrance, the district has no other positive visual features or organizational attributes, despite the presence of Campus Creek and Paint Branch. While retaining a vestige of the historical roots of the campus in the small farm complex in the northwest corner, this district has otherwise developed as one of the most dense and "urban" areas on campus. The street structure forms a small, if imperfect, grid filled with utilitarian buildings and parking lots. Landscaping only edges the buildings. There are no unifying open spaces or pedestrian ways. Most of the architecture within the district lacks grandeur, unity, and continuity with the Historic Core and other symbolic traditions of the campus. The vision for this district is to create a much stronger and positive district identity by restoring Campus Creek and Paint Branch along the north and east edges of this district, reinforcing the urban character of the interior of the district with infill buildings, enhancing the landscape and creating gathering plazas and major north-south pedestrian walkways. Pedestrian bridges will link the district with the Route 1 area and the housing to the east of Route 1, creating a gateway experience from Campus Drive into the district. The campus began as an agricultural college, and much of the original land was devoted to farm research. The vestige of farmland in this district will be preserved as part of the university heritage. It will also support current agriculture programs and the university mission of diversity in experience and education. Recommendations in the plan for this district focus on creating a stronger sense of community and definition (Figure 14): The preservation, restoration, and enhancement of Campus Creek and Paint Branch as unique features, pedagogical instruments, and campus amenities. Development of high quality and strong pedestrian environment and linkages to the surrounding districts and College Park, including links across Paint Branch to the Route 1 area. Planned capital improvements for the Colleges of Computer, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences (including a new physical sciences facility to replace the antiquated facilities currently in use), Engineering, and Life Sciences.

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