Comprehensive Master Plan

Our Brilliant Tomorrow is a comprehensive master plan that visualizes a long-term vision for WSU’s campuses in Winona and Rochester.

The plan identifies how campus buildings, infrastructure, landscape, and other physical resources will support the implementation of the President’s Strategic Framework.

It will serve as a tool for WSU to prioritize facilities projects and optimize capital investments that advance the goals identified in the Strategic Framework, providing the roadmap to Our Brilliant Tomorrow.

WSU engaged HGA Architects and Engineers for this 14-month planning process beginning in July 2021.

With input from students, faculty, and staff, the following guiding principles were established:

  • Advance the campus culture that promotes DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Inclusivity) and collaboration
  • Generate plans that are data-informed and actionable, with a clear “why”
  • Craft innovative and adaptable spaces that support all student typologies and the Future of Learning
  • Reinforce academic excellence through hands-on learning and one-on-one interactions to drive enrollment
  • Integrate sustainability and resiliency into physical space, materials, and processes
  • Support growth in Rochester and elevate outreach and engagement within the community

Help Create Our Brilliant Tomorrow

As part of the WSU community, your experience and opinions are critical to shape Our Brilliant Tomorrow.

Join us for upcoming events to share input and insights.

Thursday, April 21
12-1:15pm

Kryzsko Commons Ballroom
Virtual Meeting on Zoom

Join our Town Hall to learn about three future campus planning scenarios and share your thoughts. Snacks included! All are welcome.

Friday, April 22
8-9am

Virtual Meeting on Zoom

See campus planning ideas for the future of the Rochester WSU facilities, programs, student and support services and share your thoughts.

What should the built environment (buildings, outdoor spaces, infrastructure) look like in the future?

Want to stay involved in designing Our Brilliant Tomorrow?

Take a short survey (5-10 minutes) to tell us your thoughts and you’ll be entered to win a drawing for one of five $25 Amazon gift cards!

Future of Learning Week
Nov. 15-19, 2021

Watch the Zoom Recording

What is the future of learning in higher education? What will this mean for student experience and campuses in the future?

Keynote speaker Elliot Felix, a higher education strategist, answered these questions by bringing together stories and stats in an engaging session that moves from principles on the science of learning to broader societal trends to examples of change in action to campus space impacts and finally to edge cases that provide some further clues about the future.

All of these examples are drawn from his company's work with leading institutions and his research on higher education for a forthcoming book on student experience.

Elliot founded and leads brightspot, a Buro Happold Company. He’s on a mission to create more engaging and equitable student experiences by helping colleges and universities transform their student services, spaces, staffing, and systems using an inclusive and agile process.

He is an accomplished strategist, facilitator, and sense-maker who has helped transform more than 100 colleges and universities including Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Tech, MIT, NC State University, New York University, McGill University, Stanford University, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, and University of Virginia.

In 20 years of practice, he has improved the experience of more than 1,000,000 students so they are better connected to information, support services, inspiring spaces, a purpose, a career path, and each other.


Building Community Innovation Challenge

See the ideas submitted by students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members on how to foster community in the future:

  • On and off campus
  • Within majors
  • Within a college
  • With student groups
  • With alumni

Current Facilities Master Plan

Winona State University has finalized the 2017 Campus Facilities Master Plan (PDF).

RDG Planning & Design of Des Moines, Iowa served as the consultant for the 14-month process. WSU simultaneously developed landscape and athletic facility plans.

The master plan includes information about existing buildings, facilities and property and their current use. The plan also explores options for expansion, growth or changes for the future as they relate to the WSU mission.

While developing this master plan, input was received from:

  • Athletics – students, coaches administration
  • University Advancement
  • WSU Arboretum and Sustainability committees
  • Colleges of Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Science & Education
  • Information Technology
  • Finance and Facilities
  • Academic Affairs
  • Marketing and Communications
  • University Deans
  • Parking & Transportation
  • Registrar's Office
  • Office of Finance and Administration
  • Facilities Management

Common themes that emerged included:

  • Insufficient infrastructure (power/data/etc.) to support tech integration among students
  • Student interaction & lounge spaces
  • Concerns regarding Rochester campus
  • More space/quality of space especially with converted/upgraded classroom space to support collaborative teaching methods
  • Outdoor education space for all – not reserved