Committee on Architecture for Education

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  • 1.  Trends in Higher Education Design- Discussion

    Posted 09-21-2023 03:52 PM

    Hi all. For those of you working on College and University Projects, what are some of the trends you are seeing in your work?

    A few I'm seeing:

    Movement to create more housing, particularly for 3rd and 4th year students

    Higher likelyhood of reusing and renovation, even of lesser quality buildings

    Decarbonization Planning, primarily with the installation of low temperature hot water (generated without fossil fuels) loops 

    Please share your thoughts!



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    Jason Forney FAIA
    Bruner Cott & Associates
    Boston MA
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  • 2.  RE: Trends in Higher Education Design- Discussion

    Posted 09-22-2023 05:50 PM

    A couple of trends.

    1. Addressing deferred and significantly deferred maintenance work into remodeling projects because no one is funding the maintenance. Seems like every remodel that we did was an excuse to replace the roof, upgrade the mechanical system, etc.
    2. More general/common space outside classrooms for social and informal learning. We widen hallways, place lots of seating, comfortable nooks for group work, etc. It's a fight at institutions that have strict non-assignable to assignable space ratios, but there's a large, but difficult, to measure value in these spaces.
    3. High energy efficiency and water efficiency use in the building systems
    4. Multi-disciplinary buildings. Even mixing academic with non-instruction uses in the same buildings. Capital funding is so scarce that it's tough to do a building that is devoted to a single department anymore.
    5. Instructional areas are not assigned- "owned" by a department but are centrally planned for best effective use.
    6. Larger classrooms to allow group work, informal learning, etc. by moving furniture around during a class.  Sled desks all facing forward at 17 sf/person is out.
    7. Forgive me, architects, but over design and budgets that are astronomical. I am astonished at the construction costs for non-specialized buildings.These costs put a strain on everyone from initial funding sources to parties that miss out because all of the available funding is spent on one or two very expensive projects. We need to learn to be more lean, and more cost efficient just as we have learned how to design for better energy and water use efficiency. 


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    Arlen Solochek, FAIA
    Owner/Principal/Founder
    Arlen Solochek FAIA, Consulting Architect
    Phoenix, AZ
    ArlenSolochek@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Trends in Higher Education Design- Discussion

    Posted 09-22-2023 09:49 PM

    Hi Jason. I wrote an article about higher-ed trends and also sites I use to follow trends for Inform, an online magazine published by the Virginia AIA. Here's a link if you are interested: Thinking Like a Futurist: Using Learning Trends Research to Design Post-Secondary Educational Environments - Inform Magazine

    A few of us at my office also wrote a pandemic piece back in 2020 about emerging trends that may disrupt higher education post-pandemic. I think it's still quite relevant if you are interested in giving it a read: Disruption in Higher Education - Ayers Saint Gross

    Great discussion, I hope those resources help!

    Ayers Saint Gross remove preview
    Disruption in Higher Education - Ayers Saint Gross
    This report explores trends that will shape meaningful disruption and change to the planning and design of campus academic, research, student life, and informal spaces.
    View this on Ayers Saint Gross >

    Inform Magazine remove preview
    Thinking Like a Futurist: Using Learning Trends Research to Design Post-Secondary Educational Environments - Inform Magazine
    A Learning Environments Strategist at Ayers Saint Gross talks with institutions around the country about emerging higher education trends.
    View this on Inform Magazine >



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    Shannon Dowling AIA
    Principal, Learning Environments Strategy + Design
    Ayers Saint Gross

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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Trends in Higher Education Design- Discussion

    Posted 10-02-2023 04:02 PM

    I'd echo many of the above statements as we see many of the same themes in our HE practice. 

    I'd also add that there is an increasing interest in renovation and adaptive re-use of buildings on campuses.  Not only to update existing facilities to address modern day pedagogical approach but also in the interest of reducing operational carbon and recognizing the value of embodied carbon in these buildings.



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    Becky Barnhart AIA
    Integrus Architecture Spokane
    Spokane WA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Trends in Higher Education Design- Discussion

    Posted 10-02-2023 09:52 PM

    Good additional observation. The additional reason for recycling is that unless a building is in miserable condition, well past being able to save it, or is substantially functionally obsolete- think a 1950's science lab vs. how science is taught today, it's really hard to justify spending a ton of money to tear down a building, provide a new one, and effectively end up with about the same useable square feet as we had originally.

    We often demo'd a building down to structure and slab when we needed a major update and still could save a significant amount of money vs. a full demo and start over.



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    Arlen Solochek, FAIA
    Owner/Principal/Founder
    Arlen Solochek FAIA, Consulting Architect
    Phoenix, AZ
    ArlenSolochek@gmail.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Trends in Higher Education Design- Discussion

    Posted 10-08-2023 04:47 PM

    Hey Jason,

    Big themes we are seeing are similar to those you point out, Decarbonization is big, EDI initiatives, attraction and retention, student success, and lots of Wellness initiatives. Space utilization has been big for us too. Rethink the existing square footage for effectiveness.



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    Tomas' Jimenez-Eliaeson, AIA,LEED AP
    Design Partner
    Little

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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Trends in Higher Education Design- Discussion

    Posted 10-09-2023 09:37 PM

    We are seeing more on campus housing – driven by affordability. For last 10 years we have been renovating existing, including the 'traditional' model as it augments community building and offers the right price point for some students.

     

    Re-purposing has been a trend in our practice for over 20 years, coupled with expanding into unused spaces (attics) to optimize yield per footprint.

     

    Focus on Student Success, starting with complete revamp of the Admissions and Onboarding process. This has transformed how we design spaces that accommodate admissions, financial aid, testing and academic counseling.

     

    Lily del C. Berrios AIA, LEED BD&C

    Principal and President

    Sizemore Group

    404-281-9900

     




    Original Message


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