Grambling State University - Master Development Plan

Grambling State University, a rural, historically black university with an international reputation, has a campus and infrastructure that has significantly grown and partially deteriorated since it’s founding in 1901. President Horace Judson’s vision for Grambling State University includes the development of a campus environment commensurate with the reputation and legacy of the university.

Stratus, Heery’s strategic consulting group, was initially engaged to analyze the campus and surrounding areas for development opportunities; scan the competitive environment; identify discrete and affordable campus improvement initiatives; identify potential business enterprise and redevelopment zones; identify land acquisition strategies; recommend improvements for the quality of student residential life; create project scopes and budgets for specific initiatives; research alternative funding strategies; and develop schedules for implementation. Stratus consolidated these findings and recommendations into a prospectus titled Grambling: Reclaiming Our Legacy and Claiming Our Place, which has served as both a vision development and fund-raising instrument.

Following this initial effort, Stratus worked with Grambling to create a master development plan for the campus. This effort included an academic master plan, surveys and assessments of existing conditions, assessment of highest and best use of facilities and land, architectural and landscape design standards, incremental campus development strategies and development of funding sources and partnerships.

Heery also provided programming and concept design for three projects identified during the master planning process. These included a library/learning resources center with student success center, a science center and an “educational village” which will include lab schools for grades Pre-K through 12 and the College of Education, and a sports/recreation master plan