Campus Master Plan

Opened in 1960, the University of the West Indies St. Augustine campus evolved from the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, and boasts an impressive landscape of indigenous and introduced trees and shrubs. Its new master plan, developed by Hanbury in association with local firm Reynald Associates, aligns with the University’s new Strategic Plan, which sets ambitious goals for growth during the next two decades.  

The University of the West Indies (UWI) serves 17 countries and approximately 60,000 students, with three major campuses (Mona in Jamaica; Cave Hill in Barbados; and St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago). The St. Augustine campus is the only one that includes science and technology and agriculture disciplines.

The master plan takes into consideration enrollment projections and the desire to expand research, putting in place guidelines for existing space utilization, land use, land acquisition, and partnership opportunities. The goal of a more student-centered campus drove recommendations for new residential communities and amenities. Pedestrian connections have been strengthened on and between the Main and North campuses with new tree-lined walks. Landscape and open space recommendations leverage native rain and samaan trees, complemented by other varieties to provide shade along paths and to create “outdoor rooms” for civic, social and recreational engagement.

The government of Trinidad and Tobago is developing mass transit systems that will further connect the Main and North campuses. The master plan examined the urban context in light of these future developments, putting the St. Augustine campus on the path to become “a truly 21st century university with a global reputation for excellence... while retaining its commitment to regional development and continuing to reflect the distinctive character of the Caribbean society it was set up to serve.”