Joliet Junior College is laying the groundwork for its physical future, officially launching a comprehensive process to create a new facilities master plan that will guide campus development for the next 10 to 15 years.

A representative from the architectural firm Legat Architects presented an overview of the planning process to the Board of Trustees on Wednesday. The plan will serve as a strategic roadmap for renovations, new construction, and land use across the college’s properties.

The process is broken into two main parts. The first phase, scheduled to conclude in November, is focused on “defining the problem.” This involves gathering extensive data, including floor plans, space utilization studies, and campus assessments. It will also include a series of interviews with all campus departments and a workshop with the Board of Trustees on July 30 to understand needs, deficiencies, and future goals.

“It’s so important to understand that as a concept,” the Legat representative explained. “One of the things we find is most important in master plans is first defining the problem.”

The second phase, running from December through March 2026, will focus on “solving the problem.” This stage will involve developing options for new construction or renovation, determining project sizes, and prioritizing initiatives. The final, documented master plan is expected to be complete by the summer of 2026.

Trustee Maureen Broderick questioned how the college’s strategic plan would be incorporated, and was assured the two plans would be aligned throughout the process.