Learning Resources

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: 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: 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: Replace, restore, or renovate? In this article, architects, engineers, and campus administrators offer insights on updating mid-century buildings. Averaging a half-century old, these once-innovative structures are showing signs of age. The author gives guidance on transforming them into buildings that make positive contributions to the 21st-century campus. Topics covered include how to assess a building’s potential for renovation, options for energy-efficient HVAC systems, choosing materials that enhance the building’s performance and reduce operating costs, updating 50-year-old floor plans to support today’s pedagogy, and funding models and sources for projects.

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: This session describes how we used data visualization to spark critical conversations as we evolved 1960s-era space guidelines into modern approaches. Key aspects of the space planning process at California State University-Chico were facilitated through data-informed discussions involving demographics and space analytics, which were used to align our plan with strategic directions, pedagogy, and anticipated resources. We'll share how space and campus planning discussions can be informed by environmental scanning tools, benchmarking, data visualization techniques, and scenario-based modeling.

Abstract: Many institutions are trying to figure out what to do with buildings from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, many of which could be considered “background buildings”. With failing systems and extensive upgrade costs, what are the pros and cons of renew versus replace? Can “old” be made new again while maintaining architectural diversity for students on campus? See how other campuses are dealing with this issue as it relates to policy and capital projects. We'll include case studies of both rehabilitation and tear-down.

Abstract: The built environment directly affects human health and sustainability coordinators and campus planners are uniquely positioned to advocate for healthier buildings for their students, faculty, and staff. Smith College is a prime example of how a higher education institution can inspire market transformation. The Neilson Library renovation went above and beyond Smith College’s campus sustainability policy by implementing a sustainability charter, prioritizing health and wellness, and advocating for positive change. In this session, you will learn how material transparency and optimization can act as an avenue to address health and wellness in your institution's built environment.