Learning Resources

Supporting Neurodiversity in Higher Education

When Every Space Counts

By: Kathleen Kelly, MBA, AIA, LEED A+P

By integrating several unique campus voices, we can realize that unassignable space is highly valuable to the neurodivergent campus occupant.

From Volume 51 Number 4 | July–September 2023

Abstract: While universities have long been bastions of intellectual diversity, they are now embracing a broader understanding of diversity that extends beyond race, gender, and socioeconomic background. Neurodiversity, a concept celebrating the natural variations in human neurological functioning, is gaining prominence as an essential aspect of fostering a truly inclusive educational environment.

Institutions Mentioned: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, University of Southern Denmark, Syracuse University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Washington-Seattle Campus, University of Toronto-Downtown Toronto (St. George), Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Accessibility, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Facilities Design, Facilities Planning, Health and Wellness, Informal Learning Environments, Space Assessment

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Conference Recordings

Published
March 19, 2021

2021 North Atlantic Regional Conference | March 2021

Experience vs Convenience

Yale and UConn are Embracing Transactional Dining

By: Jennifer Stone, Robert A.M. Stern Architects | Adam Millman, Yale University | James Benson, Yale University | C. Dennis Pierce, University of Connecticut | Robert Landolphi, University of Connecticut

Two universities share how their hospitality teams rethought their dining operations over the past year—UConn, as one of the country's largest self-operated food service programs, focused on maintaining diverse options; Yale, as a transformational organization, committed to table gatherings and healthy, locally-sourced food.

Abstract: Over the past year, the hospitality teams at Yale University and the University of Connecticut (UConn) have had to rethink their dining operations, shifting to a transactional approach to continue supporting student wellbeing. The two universities faced very different challenges: UConn, as one of the country's largest self-operated food service programs, focused on maintaining diverse options; Yale, as a transformational organization, committed to table gatherings and healthy, locally-sourced food. This session will explore how these programs have adapted to the current crisis and what their experiences teach us about the future of campus food service.

Institutions Mentioned: University of Connecticut-Main Campus, Yale University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: COVID-19, Dining Facility, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Facilities Planning, Health and Wellness, SCUP 2021 North Atlantic Regional Conference, Town and Gown

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Webinar Recordings

Published
September 17, 2020

Out of the Fire and Into the Future

Insights on Essential Planning Strategies Post COVID

By: Pete Zuraw, Vice President, Market Strategy and Development, Gordian (Moderator) | Michael McCormick, Associate Vice President Asset Management and University Architect, University of Washington | Mina Amundsen, Assistant Vice President, Facilities and Capital Planning, Colby College

The integrative process of short-term planning during the pandemic effectively brought together academic, financial, and physical planning, and presents a unique opportunity to continue work across traditional planning silos. Explore new planning modes being used during this crisis and their long-term application.

Abstract: Higher education has been responding in crisis mode since spring and racing toward an entirely new kind of academic year this fall. How can we turn this experience into productive new strategies for planning and leadership?

Existing siloed decision making would not have allowed for a successful response to the rapidly changing conditions brought on by the pandemic. The integrative process of short-term planning effectively brought together academic, financial, and physical planning, and presents a unique opportunity to continue work across traditional planning silos and modes of learning and living.

Institutions Mentioned: University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Colby College
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: COVID-19, Response Planning

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Webinar Recordings

Published
June 8, 2020

Campuses Learning From Each Other

By: Co-Host and Moderator: Rena Cheskis-Gold, Principal and Founder, Demographic Perspectives | Co-Host and Panelist: Laura Pirie, Principal and Founder, Pirie Associates | Panelists: Michael Perez, Associate Vice Chancellor, Vanderbilt University; Jennifer Stone, Partner, Robert A.M. Stern Architects; Pam Schreiber, Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Executive Director, Housing & Food Services, University of Washington

COVID-19 has left universities overwhelmed and struggling to rapidly shift to new ways of operating Focusing on the interactions between people, policy, facilities, and technology is more important than ever on campuses. Colleagues from Demographic Perspectives and Pirie Associates, in affiliation with SCUP, discussed the challenges, priorities, solutions, and opportunities to change the way campuses operate for the future.

Abstract: COVID-19 has left universities overwhelmed and struggling to rapidly shift to new ways of operating effectively. Focusing on the interactions between people, policy, facilities, and technology is more important than ever on higher education campuses. The short-term solutions colleges are now implementing need to be embraced as lessons for the long-term. What can we learn from others working in and with higher education? What are the challenges, priorities, and solutions and, where are the opportunities to change the way campuses operate for the future?

Institutions Mentioned: Vanderbilt University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: COVID-19, Response Planning

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Conference Presentations

Published
March 8, 2020

2020 North Atlantic Regional Conference | March 2020

Leading with Culture and Community to Transform a University Building

By: Laura Pirie, Principal, Pirie Associates | Kristina Chmelar, Major Projects Planner, Yale University | Sara Lulo, Assistant Dean, Yale Law School

We will share the planning behind the transformation of Yale Law School's Baker Hall and demonstrate how deeply engaging the new occupant's culture can powerfully guide building transformation.

Abstract: How can a university building, intended for short-term use, be re-purposed to support over-all university planning, embody the culture of a new user, and enhance that user group's pedagogy? Reusing campus structures can be highly effective, but limitations and pre-conceptions can be challenging. We will share the planning behind the transformation of Yale Law School's Baker Hall and demonstrate how deeply engaging the new occupant's culture can powerfully guide building transformation.

Institutions Mentioned: Yale University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Adaptive Reuse, Law School Facility, Mixed-Use, SCUP 2020 North Atlantic Regional Conference, Student Housing

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Conference Presentations

Published
March 8, 2020

2020 North Atlantic Regional Conference | March 2020

One Yale

A Unified Campus for The Next Century

By: Graham Wyatt, Partner, Robert A.M. Stern Architects | Kari Nordstrom, Director of Project Architecture and Design, Yale University | James Elmasry, Planner, Yale University

Yale has unified its community with strategic development along its two-mile-long urban campus, strengthening diversity and inclusion while the historically dispersed communities of the residential colleges continue to flourish.

Abstract: As universities grow, the way they foster community needs to adjust. Yale University has responded to campus physical expansion and population growth in ways that can be a model for others. Yale has unified its community with strategic development along its two-mile-long urban campus, strengthening diversity and inclusion while the historically dispersed communities of the residential colleges continue to flourish. We will share methods for managing physical development while adapting and evolving the campus culture.

Institutions Mentioned: Yale University
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Campus Master Planning, Facilities Planning, SCUP 2020 North Atlantic Regional Conference, Town and Gown, Urban Campus

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Conference Presentations

Published
March 8, 2020

2020 North Atlantic Regional Conference | March 2020

Rubik’s Cube

Phased New and Renovated Construction for the Sciences

By: Mariko Masuoka, Principal, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects | Kari Nordstrom, Director of Project Architecture and Design, Yale University | Michael Reagan, Vice President, Stantec | Ryan Broadbin, Sr. Project Manager, Dimeo Construction Company

Yale University's new Yale Science Building and its associated renovation projects illustrate how a new facility can integrate under-utilized space, meeting program needs and connecting existing science buildings.

Abstract: A combination of new construction and renovation can optimize space while remedying previous planning problems. Yale University's new Yale Science Building and its associated renovation projects illustrate how a new facility can integrate under-utilized space, meeting program needs and connecting existing science buildings. We'll share the planning methodologies and design processes used in a project this complex, along with technical challenges unique to building and renovating science facilities.

Institutions Mentioned: Yale University
Tags: Facilities Planning, Renovation, Science / Engineering Facility, SCUP 2020 North Atlantic Regional Conference, Urban Campus

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Creating a Sense of Community on Urban College and University Campuses

Implications for Planning and Design

By: Peter A. Bacevice, Bennet Dunkley

Urban campuses have unique planning and design challenges when it comes to creating a sense of place that reflects both their global ambitions and local commitments to a variety of stakeholders.

From Volume 47 Number 1 | October–December 2018

Institutions Mentioned: Fordham University, CUNY Brooklyn College, Loyola University Chicago, New York University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Urban Campus

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P3 Performance for Higher Education

By: Nic de Salaberry, Ryerson University

This is a SCUP Fellow Research Project Final Report for the 2016–2017 program. The researcher’s intention was to better understand P3 models and learn how they have performed, possibly generating some useful lessons for how P3 models can be applied with desired outcomes.

Abstract: Public-Private Partnership (“P3”) procurement models for built infrastructure serving higher learning institutions started to gain attention in North America in the late 1990s—mostly as an alternative approach to adding student housing at select universities and colleges. More recently, P3 models have been applied to a diverse range of higher learning projects, with some serving core academic and research functions.

Although many institutions are considering P3 approaches among their options to address emerging pressures to expand or update their facilities, their implementation is not yet common. The researcher’s intention was to better understand P3 models and learn how they have performed, possibly generating some useful lessons for how P3 models can be applied with desired outcomes.

Institutions Mentioned: Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, University of Toronto-Scarborough, Drexel University, Ohio State University-Main Campus, York University-Keele Campus, University of Washington-Seattle Campus, University of California-Merced, Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Planning Types: Campus Planning
Tags: Original Research, Public-Private Partnerships (P3)

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Campus Chapels Make A Comeback: Planning for the Adaptive Reuse of Campus Chapels

Campus heritage, a growing interest in spirituality among multidenominational students, the need for multiple use of student spaces are fueling a closer look at campus chapels. This article takes a look at those factors and issues to be addressed in the renovation and reuse of such buildings.

From Volume 33 Number 3 | March–May 2005

Abstract: Campus chapels once bespoke a school’s curriculum, defined the student body, contributed to ambiance, and served as a recruitment tool for parents looking to religion to influence their children’s character. As schools strayed from their religious roots, encountered pressing program needs, and faced funding concerns, many of these rarely used buildings fell into disrepair. In the last few years, efforts to preserve an institution’s heritage, maximize space, and address spirituality have led schools to consider restoring and reusing campus chapels. This article focuses on keeping the chapel’s original design intent while capitalizing on its strengths to upgrade the building and supplement its usage.

Institutions Mentioned: College of William and Mary, Tufts University, University of Mount Union, Wellesley College, Babson College, Bowdoin College, Harvard University, Yale University, University of Vermont, University of Pennsylvania
Planning Types: Campus Planning

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