There were no wrong answers.

Only dreams.

That was the message Heather Mitchell and Irene Tyson of The Boudreaux Group brought to the USC-Union campus on Wednesday.

The architects were on campus to begin the process of creating a master plan for the university’s Union location — a plan that would carry the school into the future.

USC-Union will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2015 and the campus’ growth in the last few years in enrollment — shattering previous records for fall enrollment this year with more than 500 students for the first time in more than four decades — has brought about the question of how the university should prepare as it heads onward and upward in Union.

Wednesday was the kickoff for the creation of a master plan for the Union campus. Mitchell — the architecture firm’s president — and Tyson met with community members, USC-Union students and community leaders throughout the day asking them several questions in an attempt to answer the question where they wanted the campus to be in another 50 years.

“But it is not all about enrollment growth,” said campus dean Hugh Rowland last week. “It is also about developing a vision that Union can take pride in. When you bring your children and grandchildren to the university five, 10 or 25 years from now, what would you like to say that you were a part of?”

Rowland envisions USC-Union taking a lead on developing its end of Main Street in downtown Union — tying into the already apparent history and beauty of its hometown — but also thinking about the needs continued increases in enrollment will bring.

The process is only in its infancy and The Boudreaux Group — based in Columbia and developer of master plans for a number of other University of South Carolina campuses — wanted to hear what people in Union were thinking about where they want the campus to be down the road.

“It really becomes your road map,” Mitchell told the more than 40 students in attendance at the late morning session, adding a master plan sets goals — or a vision — of where the campus wants to be in the future.

“Today is all about dreaming,” she said. “We are here to listen to you . . . If you’ve got some ideas, speak up.”

“A master plan is going to reflect what the community wants,” Tyson told the 20 community members in attendance at the 9:30 a.m. session. “Nothing is going to be put out there that doesn’t have broad community support.”

Really, the creation of a master plan begins to open up dialogue between everyone involved — from the university steering it all the way down to the campus’ adjacent residents and property owners.

“The great thing about dreaming like this is that there are no bad ideas,” Tyson said.

Ideas flowed freely during Wednesday’s meetings with the various focus groups.

Community members seemed to focus more on the partnerships it will take to get to where they see the university going in the future, like those that made the Advanced Technology Center possible. Many of the community members in attendance made comments on how USC-Union might be able to do more — such as adding more four-year bachelor programs like a bachelors of science and nursing degree — if it could partner more with other entities and possibly even with the private sector.

A good portion of those from the public who attended the session also want to see the university keeping with the historic appearance of downtown Union. Others made sure to point out, however, that whatever is done as far as the campus’ architecture, it needs to keep the students who will be attending the university in mind; adding the right designs could help in recruitment of new students and make all students proud to call USC-Union their school.

Those in attendance at the student session saw some of the same needs for the Union campus, including additional partnering opportunities and the need to offer more four-year degree programs, but there were several aspects of the campus students pointed out they would like to see addressed.

One of which was a campus identity.

One student said the first time she came to Union to visit the campus she couldn’t find if until after spotting the USC-Union sign 30 minutes after driving around town looking. Students agreed the Union location needs to be more identifiable and even possibly add other familiar signs that it is the University of South Carolina.

Most students agreed the size of USC-Union is an attribute, allowing professors to have more time for individual students due to smaller class sizes but others pointed out the more students the campus had attending, the more opportunities downtown Union has.

One student pointed out — perhaps the biggest partnership there could be — USC-Union will only help the community of Union and Union County survive — the futures of both school and community are tied together. With more students, the doors are open for businesses to open near the campus — coffee shops, cafes, etc. — that would serve not only an increased student population but also the community at large.

Of course, if more students are coming to the Union campus, then the need for student housing would exist and students already would like to see the addition or upgrade of several facilities — including a cafeteria and possibly a new library.

Those attending Wednesday’s student focus group also had several other suggestions for the campus’ improvement like making it more aesthetically pleasing while adding that University of South Carolina ambiance, larger seating in classrooms and even converting all classrooms at the campus into smart classrooms.

There also were several other thoughts from community members who attended the earlier session, including ideas of where the university could grow and what spaces it could use in downtown Union.

All of the ideas and suggestions were welcomed by Mitchell and Tyson who wrote down each one of them.

The key to Wednesday’s focus sessions, however, was just to listen. All of the ideas the two women received will be taken back to their firm, weeded through and brought back to Union for continued discussion.

They expect a completed master plan for the campus could be in Rowland’s hands after a few months. The good thing about a master plan, however, is that once it’s done, it’s really not.

“Once the master plan is done, it becomes a living document,” Tyson told community members.

The plan is constantly updated, adapting to situations and needs as they arise.

The focus groups give The Boudreaux Group the energy and direction it needs to develop the USC-Union master plan and Tyson and Mitchell were sure to let all those who attended them Wednesday know how much their thoughts and ideas were appreciated.

“Just the time you took today is a commitment to USC-Union,” Mitchell told members of the public. “We appreciate that.”

She expressed the same to those students who took the time to offer their thoughts.

“Your input is invaluable,” Mitchell said.