U.S. college campuses build in the 1960's and 1970's are showing their age, and not in a good way. Cracking brickwork, old pipes and leaky roofs—not to mention outdated building systems—are just some of the symptoms plaguing campuses of all sizes across the country. Postponing repairs to a roof or HVAC system, for example, can increase the potential for emergency repair or replacement.
New tools, technologies and systems have been adopted by private sector corporations and are now making their way into higher education to to repair and upgrade old structures. Armed with data and predictive analytics, colleges and universities can build consensus on capital planning and budgeting priorities. The benefits extend to capital planning, too, with data-driven insights providing a clear picture of maintenance requirements and a suggested roadmap for short- and long-term funding projects in the context of overall university needs. For example, replacing elevators or generators across multiple campus buildings brings with it the potential for volume efficiencies, rather than budgeting upgrades per individual building.
Investing in facility management solutions can be applied to campus-wide improvements for a bigger-ticket win, too. Smart lighting and HVAC systems give students more power to personalize their environment, while also increasing energy efficiency. In addition, public private partnerships are flourishing in higher education as institutions leverage the private sector to renovate aging infrastructure.
A high-tech, data-driven approach is a key to success for campuses looking to address problems related to deferred maintenance. They can also then divert attention—and cost savings—back to the university's core mission: educating students.

Comments
Post a Comment