Add as a preferred source on Google

Gordian Report: Investments in Higher Education Facilities Up 26%

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/04/24

Data-driven solutions provider Gordian recently released its latest State of Facilities in Higher Education report, which revealed that higher-education institutions ramped up their reinvestment in facilities by more than 26% year-over-year during 2023, according to a news release. The eleventh edition of the report compiles data from all phases of the building’s lifecycle from a database of 43,000 campus buildings, $13.5 billion in capital and operating budgets, and 1.1 billion square feet of space.

“After last year's call to action, it's rewarding to see campus leaders stepping up with transformative strategies,” said Gordian President Kris Gorriarán. “This report offers valuable insights for higher education authorities striving to honor their institutional missions amid space, budget and staffing trials.”

The report also revealed a number of challenges facing campus leaders. First, space growth remained flat for the third consecutive year, indicating that institutions have recognized the value of restraint. Capital spending on existing buildings sits at $5.20/GSF, up more than 26%. The cost of maintaining existing space has risen to $7.85/GSF due to inflation. Following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, service quality appears to be entering a decline for the first time in about ten years. Facilities leaders have also reported that their greatest challenge is finding talented staff to care for their campus’ full facilities portfolio.

“This year’s report takes a deeper dive into the staffing challenges that have accelerated in higher education and some creative efforts being taken to overcome these hurdles,” said Pete Zuraw, Gordian’s Vice President of Market Strategy and Development. “It is also exciting to see that while some of the current challenges and risks we see in the data are daunting, the innovative energy and commitment to investment being demonstrated by campus facilities stewards suggests there are reasons to be encouraged about the strength of the state of higher ed facilities and the work ahead.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.

  • iPark 87

    Building a Future-Focused Career and Technical Education Center

    A district superintendent shares his team's journey to aligning student passions with workforce demands, and why their new CTE center could be a model for districts nationwide.

  • UT System Board of Regents Approves $108M Housing Complex

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently announced the approval of a new, $108-million housing complex at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), according to a news release. The facility will stand four stories and have a total of 456 new beds for freshmen students.

Digital Edition