David Walters oral history interview, 2013 January 16
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Dr. David Walters, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, reflects on Chancellor James H. Woodward's accomplishments, especially the way he managed exponential growth in facilities and academic programs. As a member of the Master Planning Task Force, he details the master planning process, noting foundational work of Professor Charles Hight, Dean of the School of Architecture. In describing how the Task Force created the Vision and Values Statement that undergirded future campus planning, he makes particular mention of Dr. John Lincourt from the Department of Philosophy who helped devise the contrasting duality of the Vision and Values Statement, and notes why it was such an important component of the Master Plan. He discusses the evolution of the 1995 Master Plan through two revisions: 2000, 2010; noting that while ahead of its time, the 1995 plan was also impractical in some regards--for example the damming of Toby Creek and multi-use facilities. As the master plan evolved, the document shifted into technical detail, focusing more on specifics. Dr. Walters describes his disagreement with Chancellor Woodward over the insistence of a "traditional" look for the campus, admitting that while said look is pleasant and imbues a sense of permanence, it still comes across (from an architectural point of view) as generic. He admits he preferred bold architecture that makes a statement, but also understands that state funding for construction limits those kinds of opportunities. Another point of disagreement was the decision by Chancellor Woodward to keep light rail off campus. Dr. Walters concludes the interview talking about the Center City Building, the decision by Chancellor Dubois to bring light rail onto campus and how that will influence new development on the Highway 29 (North Tryon Street) side of campus.
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