A Master Plan guides the physical development of the campus - presenting long-range strategies for Campus growth and transformation. The holistic approach addresses the physical planning that interrelates buildings, energy, mobility infrastructure, open space, site ecology, and stormwater management.

In 2015, the senior administration of California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) initiated a process to update the 2007 Campus Master Plan. This initiative addresses evolving needs of a new academic plan, new leadership, constrained water resources, reducing traffic impact, revised growth projections, university goals for carbon neutrality, and other issues. An update is necessary as many underlying assumptions and priorities have evolved. In addition, funding for three major capital projects became available, and CSUMB’s administration recognized the prudence of reviewing and confirming sites for each for the projects.

The Master Plan Guidelines (2020 draft) and Draft Environmental Impact Report are now on the Campus Planning webpage and available for public review and comment until March 21, 2022. The published draft incorporates minor corrections and input from the public comment period.

The Master Plan Guidelines express a vision for a twenty-first-century learning environment that connects the university’s mission and academic plan with the design, development, and stewardship. The plan creates a sustainable framework for building and site improvements. This framework preserves and enhances the unique qualities of the Monterey Bay setting while addressing program accommodation, land use, open space, mobility, and infrastructure. There are special area plans to guide the design of the most prominent campus spaces, architectural, and landscape design themes - ensure a cohesive CSUMB aesthetic. Finally, the guidelines prioritize immediate and long-term implementation.