In anticipation of the architectural design phase, the goal of this master plan and space program update was to determine the appropriate amount and configuration of spaces required to support current and projected program offerings and staffing patterns. The update was achieved through the gathering, review, and analysis of significant amounts of data, as well as a comprehensive interview process that entailed 29 meetings with representatives of academic and administrative departments. The goal of each meeting was to review and clarify the space program recommendations initially developed in 2001. The update also entailed conducting an instructional space demand analysis to determine future classroom space needs, as well as an enrollment analysis to compute data-based estimates of enrollment over the next 10 years.

During the preparation of the space program for Gateway, it became evident that the available capital funds were insufficient to build out the entire program on the downtown New Haven site in a single phase. A determination was then made to construct at least 233,000 assignable square feet on the downtown site while upwards of 40,000 assignable square feet would be located elsewhere. This plan would allow for a projected future enrollment of 3,500 students, pending additional future construction. (2006)