Sometimes the most sustainable strategies in higher education are hidden in plain view. That’s Annie Newman’s point in her article “Do more, build less,” which appears as an online exclusive in the July 2011 issue of University Business magazine.

In the article, Annie discusses the ways that institutions can reduce capital costs and environmental impact through wise space use, and the strategies for managing existing space efficiently.

As the leader of Shepley Bulfinch’s planning practice, Annie has conducted space utilization studies for campus across the US and has presented and blogged on the ...[more]

MONTREAL, CANADA – A presentation by senior planner Annie Newman, “Space Utilization – Not Just for Classrooms Anymore”, was a hot topic at the 43rd annual conference of the Society for University Planning (SCUP).

The SRO crowd at the session was testimony to the increased interest in space utilization as a cost-effective and sustainable strategy as colleges and universities respond to growing space needs on college campuses.

The presentation, which Annie gave together with MIT campus planner Robert Boes, was among the subjects highlighted by Scott Carlson’s coverage of the conference in this week’s Chronicle of Higher Education.

It may sound counterintuitive, but the most important thing about designing science and research facilities doesn’t actually involve design. The only way to plan for a future facility is to give a long hard look at the way you work today.

It’s a little like looking at your eating habits and stepping on the scale when you want to get in shape. It’s not easy. Start by:

- Establishing a vision and a set of quantifiable goals that will support it
- Understanding where you are today, evaluating existing facilities and current processes ...[more]