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Blog Post

Published
August 4, 2025

The Campus Planner in a Time of Turmoil

Your Role Is as Adviser, Not the Ultimate Decision-Maker

By: Frederick W. Mayer, Campus Planner Emeritus, University of Michigan

A founding member of SCUP shares some of his experiences and thoughts on how to deal with the challenges and turmoil facing higher education.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
July 17, 2025

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Co-Locate and Consolidate to Create Connected Campuses

Grow in Place Rather Than Add More Space Where Students Will Succeed

By: Elliot Felix, MArch

You can share spaces, support services, staffing, and technology systems within your institution and with external partners. This reduces costs while improving outcomes such as retention, graduation, and career placement rates.

From Volume 53 Number 3 | April–June 2025

Abstract: Colleges and universities have a traditional way to meet new needs. When there is a new research initiative, degree program, or student support function, institutions add space. Despite good intentions, their siloed structures, poor strategic planning, and history of continuous expansion mean that institutions adapt by adding. The result: Campuses are overbuilt and underutilized. Instead of shared spaces and seamless, supportive experiences, we’re left with sprawling campuses and spiraling costs. With enrollments, research funding, and our climate all changing, it’s time for a new model and a new mantra: Grow in place rather than add more space.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
October 17, 2023

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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.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
September 29, 2022

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Campus Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse

Leverage These Tools to Achieve Your Planning and Sustainability Goals

By: Meaghan Finney, MS, and Michael Patrick, M.Arch, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

By integrating historic buildings into your campus planning, their continued reuse can help solve some of the specific challenges facing university planners today.

From Volume 50 Number 4 | July–September 2022

Abstract: Historic campus buildings are often perceived as a burden, but by integrating them into your campus planning, their continued reuse can help solve some of the specific challenges facing university planners today, specifically in the context of sustainability. There are numerous case studies that demonstrate the successful adaptive reuse of varied campus buildings as well as an undeniable body of evidence showing the benefits of such an approach in working toward carbon neutrality. As long-term stewards of their built environments, colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to realize enduring savings from investing in the energy performance of existing buildings.

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Planning for Higher Education Journal

Published
February 25, 2022

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Fully Engaged

Integrated Planning Was Leveraged to Optimize Community Participation in the University of California, Berkeley’s Campus Master Plan

By: Caitlyn Clauson, MUP, and Marissa Cheng, MArch, AICP

The most effective master plans are those that reflect the myriad voices of the institution. Engagement should be informative, inclusive, meaningful, and fun—and should be the product of an integrated process.

From Volume 50 Number 2 | January–March 2022

Abstract: The most effective master plans are those that reflect the myriad voices of the institution. We’re finding the engagement process is fast becoming as important a product of the plan as the plan itself. Engagement should be informative, inclusive, meaningful, and fun—and should be the product of an integrated process. Leveraging the University of California, Berkeley’s Campus Master Plan as a case study, this article provides a framework for developing custom engagement strategies, and highlights examples, lessons learned, and tips for optimizing meaningful participation.

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Conference Presentations

Published
October 5, 2021

2021 Southern Regional Conference | October 2021

Rethinking Academic Workspaces

By: Kennard Brown, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Mike Carmagnola, The University of Texas at Austin | Shawn Gaither, DLR Group | Kathryn Horne, University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Krisan Osterby, DLR Group

Learn from three university panelists how to accurately assess needs, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement post-pandemic solutions for hybrid work environments on your campus.
Abstract: Physical and technological re-investments in space must produce a measurable return. Reimagining campus office and instruction space can better align capital planning with student, faculty, and staff success. As space management policies and planning shift their focus from how to where people work and learn, three university panelists will share how they're rethinking academic space to improve utilization, access, and performance. Come learn how to accurately assess needs, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement post-pandemic solutions for hybrid work environments on your campus.

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Conference Recordings

Published
October 5, 2021

2021 Southern Regional Conference | October 2021

Rethinking Research and Real Estate at UT Austin

By: Ryan Losch, Page Southerland Page, Inc. | Lawrence Speck, Page and The University of Texas at Austin | Yancey Young, The University of Texas at Austin

The J.J. Pickle Research Campus Plan marks an operational shift for the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, exploring mixed-use development and an integrated research environment to leverage a real estate asset and advance the university's mission.
Abstract: Research campuses are an increasingly important and integral part of innovative research development in higher education. By generating the right type of campus environment, institutions can foster successful partnerships with private entities. The J.J. Pickle Research Campus Plan marks an operational shift for the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, exploring mixed-use development and an integrated research environment to leverage a real estate asset and advance the university's mission. Come learn from multiple case studies, including UT Austin, and discuss the impact of environment, research focus, and governance structure on both the academic and financial success of a research campus.

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Conference Recordings

Published
April 30, 2021

2021 Pacific Regional Conference | April–June 2021

Mindful Redesign for New and Effective Learning Environments

By: Alice Kimm, John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects (JFAK) | Collette Creppell, Chapman University | Heidi Creighton, BuroHappold Engineering | Mia Lehrer, Studio-MLA | Julie Hendricks, University of California-Santa Barbara | Jennifer Milliron, LMN Architects | Helen Chu, Stanford University | Leesa Beck, University of California-Santa Barbara | David Gier, University of Michigan | Royce Smith, Montana State University – Bozeman | Timothy Waters, Sextant Group / NV5 Engineering & Technology

Join us to discuss what our campuses are planning for the immediate and distant future of teaching and learning.
Abstract: This session will focus on how changes in academic planning—accelerated in large part due to COVID-19—are resulting in new physical and virtual frameworks for learning. These range from enhanced online platforms to flexible hybrid environments, including the reappropriation and redesign of ‘found spaces,’ such as valuable and underutilized exterior zones on our existing campuses. Join us to discuss what our campuses are planning for the immediate and distant future of teaching and learning.

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Report

Published
November 23, 2020

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The Connected Campus

Building Long-Term Value and Agility by Connecting Offerings, Organizations and Operations

By: Elliot Felix, MArch

Campus environments play a vital role in student success. By making changes to their combination of spaces, institutions can respond to the shifts transforming higher education. Elliot Felix shares how colleges and universities can prepare for a more blended world by bringing together the digital and physical, enabling greater diversity and inclusion, and implementing flexible structures, staffing, space, and services. Sponsored Content: Knoll and brightspot strategy.
Abstract: Historic separations that defined higher education are dissolving: research is more interdisciplinary, online and on-campus learning are converging, wet and dry labs are blending, teaching and research overlap, and academia forges relationships with corporate partners. Institutions, by improving how they connect what they offer, how they are organized, and how they operate, can build value and agility to better assist their people on campus. Real-world examples in this white paper from Knoll and brightspot strategy discuss how campus spaces support student success, including how to fully use the campus; creating spaces that sustain diverse and flexible ways of working; thinking phygitally; and creating environments where today’s purpose-driven and entrepreneurial students (Gen Z) will thrive as they prepare to enter the workforce.

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Conference Recordings

Published
October 5, 2020

2020 Southern Regional Conference | October 2020

Data-Informed Design Decisions

Budgeting Space and Dollars

By: Jessica Janzen, SmithGroup | Paul Leef, SmithGroup | Ross Johnson, The University of Texas at Austin

Come learn how data-informed design can inform your next building project, guide space allocation, and minimize the need for new construction on your campus.
Abstract: Institutions constantly struggle with space, but having the right data can drive meaningful discussions about (re)allocating space and ultimately save a campus money. Beginning with the right quantitative and qualitative data and then layering on architectural analysis and operational considerations can help you produce the best solutions for your space-related challenges. Come learn how data-informed design can inform your next building project, guide space allocation, and minimize the need for new construction on your campus.

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