Doing More With Less Across College Campuses

Higher education institutions are facing a period of significant transition. The looming enrollment cliff, driven by declining birth rates and shifting demographics, promises to reshape the landscape of college and university campuses across the country. At the same time, many institutions are still operating within a physical infrastructure built for a different era – one characterized by steady enrollment growth and a reliance on traditional classroom-based instruction.

During the 1980s and 1990s, many colleges and universities embarked on ambitious expansion projects, adding new buildings to accommodate a growing student population. However, as enrollment numbers plateaued and, in many cases, declined, institutions found themselves significantly overbuilt. As such, the challenge today is not how to expand but how to better utilize the spaces already in place. Faced with budget constraints, sustainability considerations and evolving student expectations, colleges and universities must rethink their approach to space planning.

This shift in strategy requires a move away from the old model of continuous campus expansion and toward a more intentional, data-driven approach to space utilization. The priority now is to optimize, renovate and repurpose existing buildings to better align with today’s teaching methods, learning preferences and operational realities. To do so, institutions must first understand the full scope of the problem, including how their current space is being used, where inefficiencies exist and what strategies can help them create a more sustainable and adaptable campus environment. In this article, we’ll explore the key challenges of campus overbuilding and underutilization, outlining strategies to right-size space, maximize efficiency and align campus environments with contemporary learning models.

The Challenge: Overbuilt and Underutilized Campus Spaces

The realization that many campuses are significantly overbuilt often only becomes apparent after a thorough space utilization study. While a campus may appear to be at capacity, a deeper look into classroom scheduling and usage data often reveals substantial inefficiencies in how space is allocated.

One of the most pressing issues is low classroom utilization. Many institutions schedule courses based on historical norms rather than actual space needs, leading to classrooms that are frequently empty or only partially filled. In some cases, large lecture halls are assigned to courses with relatively small enrollments, resulting in low station occupancy – a metric that measures the number of students actually using available classroom seats. When a 200-seat lecture hall consistently hosts classes of 50 students, the institution is effectively wasting space and resources, increasing operational costs without improving learning outcomes.

Another key challenge is the fragmented nature of space ownership. Many academic departments have long operated under the assumption that they "own" certain classrooms, labs and office spaces, leading to a siloed approach to scheduling. Instead of maximizing shared use of space, institutions often find that certain rooms remain empty for large portions of the day simply because they are assigned to a specific department rather than being available for broader institutional use. This creates a pattern of redundancy, where multiple buildings may have underutilized spaces simply because they are not being shared efficiently.

Aging facilities present yet another challenge. Many campus buildings were designed for a time when didactic, lecture-based instruction was the dominant mode of teaching. Today’s students, however, thrive in active learning environments that prioritize collaboration, flexibility and technology integration. Older classrooms often lack the infrastructure necessary for modern pedagogical approaches, making it difficult for faculty to adapt their teaching methods. What’s more, maintaining and retrofitting outdated buildings places a significant financial burden on institutions, in turn diverting resources away from academic programming and student services.

Scheduling inefficiencies also contribute to the problem. On many campuses, class schedules are concentrated within a narrow window of peak hours, leading to congestion in certain buildings while leaving others underutilized for large portions of the day. Institutions that fail to extend operational hours into evenings and weekends may find themselves believing they need more space when, in reality, they simply need a more strategic approach to scheduling.

Strategies for Right-Sizing Campus Spaces

Addressing the challenges of campus overbuilding requires a strategic, data-driven approach. The first step is conducting a comprehensive space utilization assessment, which allows institutions to evaluate classroom and lab scheduling patterns, enrollment trends, office occupancy and common space usage. By analyzing this data, universities can identify underused spaces, eliminate redundancies and determine which areas can be repurposed or consolidated. Advanced tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and data visualization software provide additional insights, allowing planners to map usage patterns and explore different allocation scenarios.

One of the most effective ways to optimize campus space is by centralizing scheduling. Historically, academic departments have had significant control over room assignments, leading to inefficiencies and inconsistent use of space. A campus-wide scheduling system ensures that classrooms, labs and offices are allocated based on actual need rather than departmental tradition. This approach helps improve efficiency and foster a culture of shared resources, making it easier to adapt spaces to evolving academic demands.

Beyond scheduling changes, universities must modernize learning environments to align with contemporary pedagogy. The traditional lecture hall, designed for passive instruction, is quickly becoming obsolete. Instead, institutions are redesigning classrooms to support active learning and group collaboration that can function within hybrid education models. These updated spaces feature flexible seating arrangements, writable surfaces and integrated technology to facilitate dynamic engagement. Another way to maximize existing space is by expanding operational hours rather than increasing the physical footprint. Institutions often struggle with classroom availability during peak hours but leave significant portions of their campus unused in the evenings and on weekends. By spreading out class schedules, universities can better utilize their facilities, reduce congestion and offer greater flexibility for non-traditional students, such as those balancing work and education.

Repurposing underutilized spaces is also key to right-sizing a campus. Many administrative offices have been left vacant due to increased remote work policies or departmental consolidations. These spaces can be converted into student collaboration zones, tutoring centers or innovation labs. Similarly, underused classrooms can be adapted for hybrid learning environments, research initiatives or interdisciplinary spaces that serve multiple departments.

Since constructing new buildings is no longer financially viable for many institutions, renovation has become the preferred strategy. Rather than expanding their footprint, universities are prioritizing high-impact renovations that improve energy efficiency, enhance accessibility and create more engaging learning environments. These renovations often include modular design elements that allow spaces to be easily reconfigured as academic needs evolve, as well as retrofitting older buildings with smart lighting, efficient HVAC systems and advanced technology infrastructure to reduce operational costs and support sustainability goals.

A key part of this strategy involves benchmarking against peer institutions. By studying how other universities have successfully optimized space, institutions can identify best practices in scheduling, classroom design, hybrid learning integration and sustainability initiatives. Many universities are leveraging this approach to make data-backed decisions about renovations, reallocation and future planning.

The Financial and Environmental Benefits of Right-Sizing

The financial case for right-sizing campus spaces is compelling. Universities that optimize space usage can significantly reduce maintenance and utility costs, redirecting those funds toward academic programming and student services. Increasing space utilization by even 10 to 20 percent can lead to substantial cost savings, eliminating the need for expensive new construction projects while still meeting academic needs.

Sustainability is another critical factor. Reducing the campus footprint lowers the overall carbon footprint, as fewer buildings require heating, cooling and maintenance. Energy-efficient renovations, combined with sustainable design principles, can help institutions achieve LEED and WELL certification while promoting long-term environmental responsibility. 

By rethinking how space is used, universities can create a campus environment that is both financially responsible and ecologically sustainable. From a student perspective, right-sizing offers tangible benefits in the form of modernized learning environments, better access to shared facilities and more collaborative spaces that foster innovation; as such, institutions that invest in strategic space planning will not only improve efficiency but also enhance the overall student experience.

A New Model for Campus Space Utilization

The way we think about campus space is changing. For decades, growth was synonymous with success, with expansion serving as the default response to increasing demand, and new buildings seen as investments in an institution’s future. But as enrollment numbers shift and financial realities become more pressing, the real measure of success is no longer how much space a university has, but how well it uses what it already has.

The campuses that will thrive in the coming years are those that rethink the very purpose of their physical spaces, not as fixed assets, but as dynamic environments that can evolve alongside new learning models, student expectations and technological advances. A classroom today may not serve the same function five years from now. A residence hall built in the 1990s may need to accommodate different student lifestyles in the 2030s. The challenge is not just to fit students into existing spaces, but to design spaces that can flex, shift and grow with them.

But efficiency alone is not enough. The future of campus planning must also consider the emotional and experiential aspects of space. How do students feel when they walk into a classroom? Does the space encourage curiosity, engagement and connection? Does it reflect the diversity of experiences, backgrounds and learning styles that today’s students bring with them? A well-utilized space is not just one that is full – it’s one that’s alive.

Right-sizing offers an opportunity to redefine what campus space can be. The institutions that take on this challenge with creativity and purpose will go beyond navigating the coming enrollment shifts successfully; rather, they’ll shape a new, more responsive and more student-centered era in higher education.