Sessions

For the last seven years, the University of Missouri has been writing the playbook for reducing campus space while growing programs, and here you’ll get the benefit of that hard-earned wisdom. Gerald Morgan charts the reduction of campus building area by over 750,000gsf -- nearly 10% of the university’s physical educational and general space. He provides a behind-the-scenes look into what the bold space reduction initiative accomplished, including project goals and outcomes, surprises along the way, and "succession planning" for growth without physical expansion. He details the policies and processes that have allowed for the demolition or divestment of 24 buildings to-date, saving $147 million from deferred maintenance/capital needs backlog, and reducing operation costs by $5.1 million.

In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, traditional approaches to academic space management are no longer sufficient. Hybrid learning, fluctuating enrollment patterns, and evolving pedagogical needs are challenging space utilization, cost efficiency, and student experience. This session explores the use of innovative technologies, including AI-driven space analytics and dynamic scheduling systems, to reimagine the physical environments for the new higher ed paradigm. Through case studies and data-backed insights, David Wilder highlights strategies empowering institutions to make data-informed decisions, improve operational agility, and align space planning with academic goals. He provides a forward-looking framework to navigate change, foster innovation, and create future-ready learning ecosystems. 

Don’t let outdated space management practices hobble science programs – now is the time to overhaul institutional space use models and extend the productivity of existing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.

Miami Dade College has been working to make better use of existing facilities through a series of projects and strategic planning efforts, and here you’ll see how repurposing, renovation, and modernization investments are paying off. Leo Bobadilla examines the data gathering process and key decision-making criteria used to prioritize projects, set budgets, improve space utilization, support new programs, and reduce infrastructure costs and deferred maintenance. He highlights facility features supporting programmatic needs of the careers of today and tomorrow, and creating more welcoming and efficient environments.

Now is the time to realign academic, capital, and master plans into a comprehensive program and move forward with confidence. Sandie Shea-Crabb and Tom Haskell profile the coordinated development framework that University of Connecticut has put in place, and the  data and engagement requirements to plan for across academic units, students, faculty, and staff. They illustrate findings from an extensive review of existing real estate to optimize funding opportunities and site selection and integrate the campus experience. They demonstrate what the current NextGenCT initiative is delivering in terms of funding, planning, design, construction, and coordination to bring an adaptive campus vision to fruition.