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Analyzes how much space is needed and compares it to the amount of space currently built.
Appropriate space metrics are used to determine the amount of space needed by space category (classrooms, offices and research space). The total outcomes show a range of space need. Identifies types of space and the units needing space. In some cases, an overage of space is identified through an assessment.
Illustrates the number of rooms scheduled by day and time according to an institution’s scheduling grid.
The analysis demonstrates if additional scheduling capacity exists throughout a week and determines popular scheduling times on campus – such as Monday through Thursday 10:00am-2:00pm. Identifies scheduling inconsistencies which may prevent efficient scheduling. A precursor to reviewing scheduling policies at an institution.
Determines how classrooms and class labs are scheduled and used.
Measures weekly room hours, seat fill percentage, weekly seat hours, and square feet per student seat on a room by room basis that can be grouped, totaled, and averaged as an appropriate to the institution. Understands how well spaces are being scheduled, indicating whether spaces are needed or how growth or changes in pedagogy could be accommodated.
Determines how course enrollments align with the classroom capacities.
Illustrates classroom capacities needed to support current and proposed curriculum course enrollments. For example, an institution may perceive the need for larger classrooms but course data reveals the need for medium-sized classrooms. The result may be the need for technology within a larger classroom versus a larger classroom itself. Guides institutions to determine investment need (i.e. technology) versus building larger spaces.
Develops a room-by-room inventory or update existing inventory.
Collection of existing information such as floor plans and inventory databases. Touring spaces on campus to document occupants, space classification, seat counts, and square footage. Provides a snapshot in time of valuable real estate assets.
Planning tool development to support informed planning decisions.
Institutions need tools that allow them to change analysis outcomes by altering key inputs. These customized planning tools whether spreadsheet based or a full database management system reflect the needs of key stakeholders.
Determines how space compares to peer and aspirational institutions.
Data collected from a hand selected group of institutions compares the number of students, faculty, square footage, characteristics and program mix allowing an institution to see where space deficiencies may exist between different space categories. Identifies space shortages that may exist after conducting a normative analysis. Reviewing aspirational institutions finds space growth areas an institution requires to transform itself into future vision and mission.
Establishing space metrics and standards to determine how much space an institution needs.
Space metrics and standards create the foundation for a normative analysis. Different space categories require unique ways of determining space quantities. These are based upon:
Provides institutions with ways to calculate the amount of required space to conduct their day-to-day activities.
Creates a plan to reallocate space across a campus.
Campuses undergo multiple transformations – programs and functions become spatially fragmented and addition of new programs create functional misalignments. Expanding the built environment creates space vacancies providing opportunities to realign specific programs or functions. Helps develop synergies between programs and join fragmented programs. Creates a cohesive plan to best use space resources that reinforce strategic goals, vision, and mission.
Brings together various complex issues to make informed planning decisions.
Provides a ranking and scoring tool incorporating objective, quantifiable measures and subjective, qualitative measures. Objective measures include space shortages, utilization, building quality, functional quality, growth, and research productivity. Subjective measures include impacts of new construction, direct strategic initiatives, and targeted areas of growth. Illustrates academic and administrative programs with the greatest need for new or renovated space and helps prioritize needs on campus and eliminates the squeaky wheel syndrome.
Assess how well physical buildings address the functional needs of the programs it contains.
A subjective assessment measures the suitability of a facility to its programs. A building may never suit its intended purpose – issues as floor to ceiling heights and access to daylight can affect various functional spaces. Provides an institution with additional qualitative views of space needs beyond the quantitative measure of space and the building condition.
Determines space needed for renovation and new construction projects.
Creates a space program based upon use expectations, delivery methods, and vision that provides efficient, functional space and helps guide decision making when budget restrictions force an alternate plan. Ensures the academic vision is realized in the physical design response.
Our iterative process is not a rote exercise. Telling the right facilities’ story in numbers is an ongoing, interpretive process. An integral part of any needs assessment is client engagement. We will help you understand your campus needs through two unique applications SAM (Space Analytics & Modeling) and SAMi (Space Analytics & Modeling interactive data visualization).
An environmental scan evaluates external demographics to identify opportunities and threats that may influence an institution’s plans for academic and physical growth. Understanding the demographics of the surrounding community can influence planning for future facilities, programs, and enrollment. Recognizing what is happening outside the campus gates helps decision makers plan for what’s happening inside them.
