COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF WORLD-CLASS RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS PROJECTS: URBAN PLANNING ASPECT

Abstract

The article examines the spatial organization and functional structure of contemporary university campuses being implemented in the Russian Federation within the federal project “Creation of a Network of Modern Campuses”. The empirical basis of the study comprises data on 17 campus projects from the first and second waves of selection (2021-2022), which differ by type (inter-university and single-university), territorial location, and urban-planning context. Methodologically, the study relies on a comparative descriptive analysis with elements of quantitative assessment, including comparisons of site areas, development volumes, residential infrastructure parameters, and the composition of functional zones. The study identifies stable patterns characterizing contemporary Russian campuses: an orientation toward low-density development and the “campus-as-park” model, the mandatory inclusion of a substantial residential stock, and pronounced multifunctionality combining educational, research, residential, public, service, sports, and innovation functions. It is shown that campus type affects the scale and richness of the functional structure, but is not the only determining factor - urban-planning context and project objectives play a decisive role. The findings contribute to the development of urban-planning theory by refining the understanding of the campus as an integrated part of the urban structure and an element of the infrastructure of the knowledge economy.