URBAN

An urban campus is attractive, open, and vibrant

Success criteria:

• Campus is open and inviting
• Campus and city share functions
• Campus has urban qualities
• Campus must support NTNU’s core activities.

At the same time, it must serve students and staff as whole individuals and as members of the city’s population. A campus that is attractive and vibrant—interacting naturally with its surroundings—offers an advantage in recruiting students, staff, and partners. A diversity of arenas and activities makes it easier for more people to find a place where they feel at home.

NTNU aims to engage actively with society and welcome the world in. The campus should be open, inviting, and a pleasant place to be. It should have clear and visible points of entry and be a natural destination for the city’s residents, businesses, and others. Campus design should promote engagement and interaction with the public—especially young people.

Campus should enable students, staff, external partners, and local residents to live, work, and thrive close to one another. The university and the city should share functions, inviting residents into the campus while students and staff make use of city services and contribute to local economic sustainability. Functions like student and guest housing, cultural and outreach venues, recreation areas, retail and services, startup spaces for culture and business, dining, and health services should be accessible to employees, students, partners, and the city’s population.

Campus should have urban qualities. Good architecture, open facades, visible and welcoming meeting places, green outdoor spaces, and public parks should make campus a vibrant and attractive place for students, staff, locals, and visitors alike.