Thursday, July 17, 2014

Back to School


Over the past two years, I have enjoyed watching my daughter go through the process of selecting a college.  In addition to the typical criteria of the reputation of the school, curriculum, teacher/student ratios, and chances of employment after graduation, I was surprised to discover the extent to which the school’s facilities influenced her decision.  For example, the top school in the country in her field of study got the ax because of the lack of investment in classrooms and the cinder block 225-square-foot dormitory rooms.  Her final selection of the Savannah College of Art and Design was largely based upon the overall energy of the campus.

This made me think about the role that facilities play in the academic experience and the associated opportunities for the construction industry.  The schools that will thrive over the next 50 years will be the ones that have invested in the atmosphere of the campus.  This experience is greatly defined by the architecture.  The investment in the restoration of traditional historic structures and the development of new vibrant buildings is going to be a critical success factor for both public and private educational institutions.

I submit that the post-high school educational sector is currently at a turning point.  Schools are facing more challenges right now than ever before in history.  Tuition rates have risen 1,120% since the 1970’s and over 50% of graduates are either jobless or underemployed.  For the first time I can remember, people are seriously debating about whether a college education is worth the investment.  Add to this depressing statistic that fact that enrollment in higher education has declined over the past ten years and will remain stagnant through 2024.   These serious collegiate challenges have inspired a new documentary on America’s struggling colleges titled, “Ivory Tower ,” that was recently released.

Some might think that the best strategy under these threatening times would be to hunker down, cut faculty, and eliminate programs to survive the financial strains.  Many schools have resorted to these strategies just to stop the bleeding.  Although this strategy might provide temporary relief for the bottom line, it won’t be successful in staving off other educational competition.  The specter of online educational programs is growing by leaps and bounds.  In a study from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, an estimated 14 percent of students are enrolled in fully online programs, while 30 percent of all college students take at least one online class.  If the bricks and mortar campuses don’t take a proactive approach to the future, they might be joining the likes of Borders Bookstores and Blockbuster.

So how does all of this affect the construction industry?  I see a big opportunity for schools, architects, and general contractors to join forces to enhance the physical environment of higher education. This can be done by restoring and re-purposing the traditional structures on campus that carry the heritage of the institution.  Landmark buildings are in need of restoration, and more modern interior amenities should be incorporated in the design.  Enhancements can also be accomplished by sensitive development of new facilities that complement or even redefine the essence of the particular community.  Although it has suffered from leaks, the Stata Center  on the MIT campus serves as a good example of innovative academic design.

Re-View is very active in the restoration of landmark buildings on college campuses.  We are currently working on projects at the College of William and Mary and HarvardUniversity.  We are manufacturing historically correct wood window replicas that exactly match the existing window systems except for the inclusion of insulated glass for energy efficiency.  These changes enable the colleges to achieve LEED designation while they respect the historic design of the buildings.  The work on the exterior of these buildings must be done very meticulously in order to restore the traditional look of the buildings.  On the interior, the building systems and layouts are being redefined to provide a more comfortable lifestyle for the college dormitory experience. 

The next decade will be challenging for colleges and universities across the country.  The winners are going to be the ones that make investments in their facilities.  It should prove to be an exciting time for the construction industry.  As my second daughter starts through the college selection process this next year, I’ll be watching to see if I detect changes being made on the campuses we visit. I’m sure the environment on the campus will play as large a part in the selection process as it did for her sister. I only hope she chooses a college that also has a strong curriculum to match..