DESIGNING THE FUTURE
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
Approved By the Middlebury College Trustees, 1999
GUIDING PLANNING AND DESIGN
The Spirit of the Task:
"At Middlebury we define education broadly. Everything we do is an opportunity to
educate"
-- President John M. McCardell, Jr.
What has been born of an effort to make Middlebury College a leader in the environment,
can be defined in terms of this unique moment when the college can look back on two
hundred years of excellence, and look forward to improved modes of education, community life and leadership. The concepts of environmental design and sustainability
are being applied similarly to buildings, landscapes, manufacturing processes, communities
and academia. It is clear that environmental improvements should be made within
the context of enhancing the health, vitality and longevity of the college community
and surrounding region. By carrying forward the traditions of the past and drawing
upon the best from the present, we can design buildings and landscapes that will
better serve the needs of those who live, learn and work within them. Such planning should
adhere to certain fundamental guiding principles herein articulated by the Trustees
of the College.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The College's mission statement is a natural place to look when developing guiding
principles related to sustainability. An excerpt illuminates this concept:
To assure that our students achieve their potential the College recognizes and reaffirms
its commitment to creating and sustaining an environment conducive to learning: a
small, highly selective, coeducational student body that fosters a true community
of learning, and a faculty and staff dedicated to excellence and service to the educational
needs of students. As a residential college, Middlebury recognizes that education
takes place both within and beyond the classroom. The College seeks to maintain a
diverse community committed to broadened educational opportunities within an atmosphere
of respect for others.
All of this takes place in a splendid natural setting with well-maintained buildings
and grounds that not only support our academic and co-curricular programs, but also
impart a sense of permanence, stability, tradition, and stewardship.
-- Excerpt from Middlebury College Mission Statement
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The Guiding Principles are the embodiment of the philosophy and spirit of the college
community as set forth and adopted by the trustees. The Principles outline, in general
terms, the College's environmental goals pertaining to construction, renovation,
operation and maintenance of campus facilities. The Principles are a statement of purpose
that defines how the College and its appointees will make decisions pertaining to
the relationship of this built environment and the natural environment. By integrating long range environmental considerations into the planning process, Middlebury College
will be better prepared to assess risks, identify opportunities and make more informed
decisions about the College's future.
Middlebury's Guiding Principles are unique, and rightly so as the College is a unique
institution with its own history and its own culture. It is contextually unique
as well; there are resources and particular challenges that will be reflected in
the final process and product of this labor.
The Guiding Principles will be introduced to all individuals and organizations involved
in the design, construction, maintenance and demolition of campus buildings and landscapes,
to provide guidance about practices, and for consideration of advancements and improvements. Those consultants who contract to provide services for the College
will be legally bound to address the Guiding Principles and the related Procedures
and Practices.
During this period of unprecedented growth at Middlebury College, the Guiding Principles
provide direction by describing the overarching community, academic, and environmental
values of the institution along with general guidelines that respect these values. There is no ideal solution, just the right direction.
PRINCIPLES
- Whereas the College is at a critical turning point with the Bicentennial in 2000,
it moves into the next millennium with a respect for tradition and regard for change
that reflect the values of the institution.
- Whereas the College recognizes its potential for the academy to be a leader, it understands
the importance of embodying these concepts into all its buildings and landscapes.
- Whereas it is the College's intent to make sound decisions regarding construction,
renovation and the landscape of the campus in order to achieve the best results and
final products, it is therefore resolved that the College shall develop a Framework
to implement Procedures and Practices that establish a more informed process in which to
review alternatives and provide direction.
- It is resolved that through that Framework, the College and its appointees shall consider:
energy systems, life cycles, water use, scale and location, light pollution, recycling
and waste management, materials, community and product sources, community and regional impacts, transportation, aesthetics, indoor air quality, construction site
management, viewsheds, open space and other issues related to the campus.
- The College recognizes that it must be a leader in the development of its own campus.
The College also recognizes that as projects are developed, important information
and resources are brought to bear on the unique situations of each project. This
knowledge base should be preserved and enhanced to improve future projects. It is therefore
further resolved that the College will develop the means and methods for coordinating
essential information that can aid in the efficient use of its consultants and appointees.