The importance of public design in regards to FIU’s growth

Daniel Irigoyen/Contributing Writer

I am glad to say that in my three years at FIU, I have experienced how it has managed to grow in numbers and academic opportunities that are offered to the students. This boon does not only benefit FIU and its students, but the larger Miami area. A special eye must be placed on Sweetwater, our neighbor to the north. The University’s partnership with Sweetwater is visible not only in leadership, but also on the student level. The Honors College and medical program work closely with the community, offering students the practical experience required to be useful once they enter the real world.

The long-term future for that city is heading towards becoming a college community — an extension of the University in terms of student presence and opportunities. What one might think of Sweetwater’s political leadership is beside the point. They have been smart in gearing themselves to become a destination for college students, the surrounding community and the opportunities that both can bring to the area.

A word of caution must be inserted here. Despite all talk of partnership, growth, and vibrant communities, FIU has not been smart about creating meaningful growth. Think about it. On the one hand, the City of Sweetwater is pushing to rezone itself in favor of mixed-use development (a fancy way of saying neighborhoods with both shops and residences). On the other hand, FIU has almost moved the opposite way and divided its uses to the point that it stimulates little meaningful interaction among its variety of students. I ask, what is the point of trying to create a vibrant community with an adjacent city if FIU has not been good at doing just that on its own?

Public environments, especially here in the United States, are one of the most important barometers and catalysts of good civic engagement and interaction. The ability of these environments to create and stimulate communication between citizens is crucial to building good communities, formulating good ideas and creating meaningful progress. Let us look at the design of FIU thus far. The medical program is in one corner of the campus. The business school has its own little enclave next to the law building. Housing is a concentration camp where few of the University’s commuters ever go. A new Student Academic Support Center is planned to be built to the east of the Blue Parking Garage (nowhere near any sensible location). Also in the pipeline, separate plans for a transportation hub and a community clinic are being envisioned on the same tract of land north of PG-5 (oops).

At the moment, the University’s leadership is drafting the long-term goals that FIU will follow moving forward. I urge students to contact these individuals and express the need for sensible growth. FIU cannot ignore the importance of public design in its goal of becoming a leading urban public research university. Improving the way our structures — planned, under construction or already built — are used will not only give the University a better sense of community, but will also improve the thought processes and academic achievements of its students. Of course, FIU’s goal of expanding enrollment and services is noble. However, this growth will be a waste of space and government funds if leadership is not smart in how to plan it all out.

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