Research environments: Transforming space use culture, design, and strategic management

Don’t let outdated space management practices hobble science programs – now is the time to overhaul institutional space use models and extend the productivity of existing resources to navigate the road ahead. Barbara Manley-Smith outlines a comprehensive framework to transform how research space is allocated, managed, and utilized within a university setting including policy modernization, stakeholder engagement, and a shift from space ownership to stewardship. She charts the path to launching a centralized Space Management System (SMS), tracking space usage and funding for data-driven decision-making, and rolling out key performance metrics for sustainable transparency.