Learning Resources

Abstract: “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Everyone wants to do a good job on a facilities project, but it can be hard when you don't understand the other side’s unique perspectives, needs, goals, and competing demands. This session features insights from people who have been on both sides of a project—as architects, engineer, and sustainability professionals who also serve as college trustees and administrators. We'll share how to nurture empathy, prevent misunderstanding, and make your next facilities project run more smoothly.

Abstract: Climate change is a huge problem, and the scale of change needed to address it can be daunting. Universities are trying new models to address this issue, partnering and collaborating with each other to scale up their positive impact on climate change mitigation. We will highlight four national collaboratives in which partnerships were established for compounded benefits. Their stories will help you think beyond your boundaries and traditional approaches to address issues surrounding climate change.

Abstract: FLEXSpace—The Flexible Learning Environments eXchange—and the Learning Space Rating System (LSRS) are tools that can help you plan, design, assess, and improve learning spaces on your campus. In this session, you will learn about the newly released FLEXspace 2.0 along with the LSRS. We'll cover the features and benefits of both tools and how they can be incorporated into the planning process. Come learn how to use these tools to inform designs and support end users from planning through post occupancy.

Abstract: Strategic planning often involves the development of new or revised policies. Policy communication and operationalization can significantly impact morale and strategic plan buy-in and we must consider it in a well-planned and integrated manner in order to produce effective change. This presentation will focus on lessons learned in policy roll-out, and through sharing your own experiences, you will gain an increased understanding of challenges and opportunities in policy roll-out that can inform strategic planning decisions on your campus.

Abstract: Universities need to plan for rapid change physically, fiscally, and curricularly. In this session, we will explore the Campus 2050 survey results and share how 10 institutions are planning and adapting their campuses and built environment for economic, social, and operational changes over the next 30 years. You will learn strategies for mobilizing campus planning efforts at a faster pace and how to initiate, replicate, and improve upon current future-proofing strategies.

Abstract: As the country’s largest and most diverse four-year public university system, what happens at the California State University (CSU) reverberates nationwide. Each year, the CSU awards more than 125,000 degrees and one in every 20 Americans holding a college degree is a graduate of a CSU campus. Graduation Initiative 2025 is a university-wide initiative to ensure that all students have the opportunity to be successful and graduate according to their personal goals, positively impacting students’ and their family’s future and producing additional graduates to power the workforce for California and the nation. In this special session, the CSU Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs will address the challenges and opportunities facing the 23-campus system’s efforts to expand authentic access to opportunity for students from all backgrounds and circumstances, eliminate equity gaps and ensure student success.

Abstract: Societal challenges and opportunities no longer fit in departments. Future success requires business researchers, educators, and students to interconnect across the entire campus and beyond. In this session, we will explore how to plan a campus ecosystem that connects business with people, ideas, and resources to drive a new research and education model. You will learn key strategies and find opportunities—encompassing planning, programming, design process, and lessons learned from building use—to advance your institution's mission and build a framework to implement your initiatives.

Abstract: Higher education building projects include complex programs, multiple stakeholders, and ambitious expectations that can make the projects go over budget, requiring re-design. We will share how we used transparent predictive cost analytics before and during the programming phase to help key stakeholders prioritize wants and needs, allowing for a successful design-to-budget project. You will learn how to implement a predictive approach that minimizes costly re-design due to budget overruns.

Abstract: As engines of local economies, urban universities often nurture innovation ecosystems beyond campus boundaries, like Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Kendall Square Initiative. We will focus on this vibrant, campus-edge, partnership-driven innovation ecosystem. We'll cover laboratory facilities that combine academic strengths and private partner needs while examining the architectural challenges of urban research buildings. You will learn about the complexities of mixing commercial research buildings, student housing, residential apartments, and active retail street-level spaces to meet the physical and cultural demands of diverse clientele.

Abstract: FLEXSpace—The Flexible Learning Environments eXchange—and the Learning Space Rating System (LSRS) are tools that can help you plan, design, assess, and improve learning spaces on your campus. In this session, you will learn about the newly released FLEXspace 2.0 along with the LSRS. We'll cover the features and benefits of both tools and how they can be incorporated into the planning process. Come learn how to use these tools to inform designs and support end users from planning through post occupancy.