Architectural plans for the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu campus in Kapolei are expected to take the shape of a "college town" look.

John Hara Associates, selected to begin designing four buildings for the first phase of construction of the new $150 million campus, intends to design state-of-the-art buildings that will eventually be surrounded by a complementary mix of residential, commercial, retail and mixed-use facilities to create a well-planned college community.

"Our goal is to create a 'college town' atmosphere," said UH-West O'ahu chancellor Gene Awakuni, adding that it will not only cater to the academic needs of students "but also provide them the flexibility to work, shop and play within reach of the campus."

The UH Board of Regents in July approved a public/private partnership with the Hunt LLP group based in Texas, calling itself West O'ahu Development LLP to build Phase 1 of the campus. It's scheduled to open in fall 2008.

Phase 1 will include a power plant, library and media center, student center and an administration/classroom building.

The new campus will focus on sustainability to create a healthy, energy-efficient and environmentally sound campus.

Architect and company principal John Hara recently headed design for the $62 million Case Middle School on the Punahou campus, which also includes numerous sustainable design features. The firm has done many other Hawai'i educational projects, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center and the most recent additions to the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

"Sustainability is an important part of any new structure being built today," Awakuni said, "and is one of the core values of our university."

The new campus expects to serve 1,500 students, compared with the 900 now who use portable buildings on both ends of the Leeward Community College campus.

Phase 1 will cover about 30 acres of the 500-acre parcel set aside for the campus development. About 150 acres to 200 acres will be devoted to campus expansion, with the remainder available for residential properties surrounding the campus. West O'ahu administrators are negotiating with Hunt about the residential portion of the development, and it may be built in tandem with the campus, Awakuni said.

"There's a big corner parcel, about 50 acres, that we still have not yet decided what to do with," Awakuni said.

A partner/developer also must be chosen for that portion. It will not automatically be the Hunt group, Awakuni said.

But Awakuni expects that area will be devoted to a homey commercial project that includes a pedestrian promenade with storefronts, and possibly apartments above them, that would be the focus of a college community.

"A lot of universities are going back to that whole idea of little storefronts with sidewalks, specialty shops, bookstores," he said.

In launching the design phase, designers will use $8 million in planning money that has been appropriated by the Legislature.

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.