Campus Master Plan

Set on nearly 200 acres of limestone bluffs, Luther College’s campus is defined by its unique topography and distinct spaces. During the Covid era, shifting enrollment needs prompted Luther to engage The Collaborative in a comprehensive master planning process. This process not only evaluated facilities and future growth but also enabled campus leadership to strategically reprioritize initiatives—elevating high-impact projects, reallocating funds, and reshaping the sequence of previously top-ranked efforts to more effectively advance the College’s long-term vision.

The resulting Master Plan optimizes facilities to align with Strategic Planning initiatives, support student success, and enhance the overall student experience. Organized around four key themes—Optimization, Student Success, Student Life, and Legacy/Identity—the plan focuses on reshuffling and activating campus spaces to meet evolving student and institutional needs while addressing accessibility challenges and deferred maintenance.

Core components include:

• Transformation of the Library into a Learning Commons & One-Stop Shop for Student Success
• A major renovation of the Main Classroom Building
• Campus-wide upgrades to classrooms and student life spaces
• A new Signature Walk celebrating Luther’s campus history
• A new Wellness Connector bridging Upper and Lower campus
• Comprehensive reactivation of the Student Center

Guided by these themes, the master plan reimagines Luther’s campus as an interconnected, functional, and inspiring environment that honors the college’s legacy while supporting recruitment, retention, and the holistic student experience.