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: On many campuses, administrative office space has expanded, taking over the center of campus and other areas that would be better served with instructional space. This session will detail The University of Texas at Austin's process for recapturing that space for student or academic use by identifying ideal locations for administrative units. We'll discuss the space utilization study we undertook, how we decided where administrative units should be relocated, and the migration plan to achieve relocations.

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: Green infrastructure uses the landscape to manage stormwater. This session will explore the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) successful pilot green infrastructure project. We'll review the characteristics and benefits of green infrastructure in general, along with the accelerated design and construction process for this project in particular. We'll also share measurable results from the green infrastructure, and how the project has impacted the campus.

Abstract: Originally intended in the late 19th century as a suburban campus for New York University, the Bronx Community College of The City University of New York campus is unique in that it has had three libraries designed and built in the 19th, 20th, and the 21st centuries by leading architects: Gould Memorial Library, a neo-classical gem designed by Stanford White; Meister Hall, a mid-century modern library designed by Marcel Breuer; and North Hall, a thoroughly 21st century library designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects.

Libraries as repositories of knowledge have evolved over the centuries. Bronx Community College represents a case study of how libraries can (or cannot) adapt to changing times, needs, and function. Join us as we discuss the merits of each library and how their design exemplifies their evolving mission of making information more accessible over time.

Abstract: After a campus tragedy, the first steps for the community toward settling into the new normal often entail working through the gravity of recent events. This work includes a need for internal reflection, external processing, and collective healing. Campus communities engaged in this process often find a way to memorialize the events that have shaken them and to honor the lives of any community members lost to tragedy. This research project focuses on physical memorials that are the result of a tragic moment in institutional history.

Abstract: Managing a facility inventory can be frustrating, particularly when it seems like money to properly maintain your buildings is scarce. Tracking and communicating facilities data to stakeholders can make all the difference for both annual maintenance and capital expenditures. For Alamo Colleges, it resulted in $17 million more for maintenance funding over 10 years, and the passing of a $450 million-bond program. This article explains how to conduct a comprehensive facility condition assessment, use the data from that assessment to identify needs, and then communicate those needs to stakeholders in a convincing way.