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Reinvestment strategies for aging campus facilities: Frameworks for success

Cristianne Peschard, AIA
Cristianne Peschard
Vice President & Principal
 
Michelle Miller, AIA
Michelle Miller
Associate Vice President and Project Architect
 
Janine Leary Murphy, MSFM
Janine Murphy
Director, Tenant Fit-Out
 
Sharon A. Ames, AIA, LEED AP
Sharon Ames
Capital Projects Manager
 

As institutions weigh renovation against new construction, strategic reinvestment in aging facilities offers a more sustainable, cost-effective, and faster path forward — especially on historic campuses where preserving building stock is an institutional priority. Presenters draw on six renovation projects including from Boston University and Bowdoin College to examine how requirements are reshaping facility investment decisions. They share frameworks for evaluating renovation versus replacement, describe technical, logistical, and financial strategies for extending the life of spaces, and outline how targeted upgrades support faculty recruitment. They deliver key investment criteria and decision rationales for other institutions managing aging portfolios.