Planning for Higher Education Journal

A New Campus Planning Paradigm Emerges . . .

. . . Addressing Declining Enrollment, Evolving Academic Technology, Online Learning, and Facilities Maintenance Costs

From Volume 54 Number 1 | October–December 2025

By Mohammed Abdelaal, PhD, and Robert L. Ryan, PhD, FASLA

Planning Types: Campus Planning

Challenges: Funding Uncertainty

Tags: Adaptable Plans, Campus Master Planning, Facilities Planning, Higher Ed Trends, Original Research

Institutions referenced in this resource:
Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Ohio University, SUNY at Albany, SUNY at Binghamton, University at Buffalo, University of Connecticut-Main Campus, University of Kansas, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Wayne State University

After decades of significant investment in campus development, US universities are now confronted with enormous challenges, including declining enrollment, evolving academic technology, online learning, and rising facilities maintenance costs. The authors of this research examined how 11 public R1 universities in the Northeast and Midwest are addressing these challenges through a review of campus plans and interviews with senior planners and administrators. This study argues that a new campus planning paradigm is gradually emerging in response to these risks, which highlights innovative strategies for place-based institutions to rapidly reexamine their prevailing capital planning priorities with a focus on adaptability and right-sizing campus facilities.

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