Campus-City Interface: Key Components in the Integration of University Campuses with Urban Space

University campuses are urban focal points that, beyond their educational functions, establish physical, functional, social, and environmental relationships with the city. This study examines the relationship between Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University’s Zihni Derin Campus and the city of Rize through these four dimensions of integration. The research evaluates campus boundaries, entrances, pedestrian and vehicular connections, surrounding urban functions, open and green spaces, the relationship with the coastline, topography, and user interactions. The findings indicate that the campus connects at various levels with the transportation network and with residential, commercial, healthcare, cultural, and recreational functions; however, transportation arteries, topography, and a fragmented open-space system limit physical and environmental continuity. Regarding social integration, the campus exhibits a multi-centered structure centered around the central square, sports and recreation areas, the cultural center, and shared-use spaces. The study concludes that campus-city integration should be addressed through uninterrupted, permeable, and mutually supportive spatial connections.