News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
Flexible design, student wellness, and planning strategies shape the future of higher ed
Today’s students expect campus facilities to do more than look good. They need spaces that support wellness, belonging, accessibility, collaboration, and long-term institutional adaptability. Andrew Chaveas, director at Brailsford & Dunlavey, brings more than 15 years of experience in project management, architecture, construction management, development advisory, and owner’s representation to that conversation. Having helped guide educational capital improvement projects from concept to completion, including projects with budgets exceeding $500 million, Andrew understands how institutions can align ambitious facility goals with real-world constraints, stakeholder priorities, and long-term value. In this month’s Ask the Expert, he shares how colleges and universities can plan facilities that respond to today’s students while remaining ready for what comes next.
Brailsford & Dunlavey: Student expectations around campus facilities have changed significantly in recent years. What are the most important features institutions should consider to meet the demands of today’s students?
Andrew Chaveas: Flexibility is key and should go beyond a 2-D or 3-D study looking at movable furniture or multipurpose rooms. While those are important studies, student demands are changing so rapidly that a 4-D approach to designing facilities can result in the adaptability required to support different uses throughout the day, across academic years, and over the life of the building. A space might need to support studying in the morning, student programming in the afternoon, and community-building in the evening. Colleges and universities should be creating spaces that can evolve without requiring a full reinvestment every time student expectations shift.
B&D: Wellness, belonging, and accessibility have become major priorities across higher education. Where do you see those principles having the greatest impact on the student experience?
AC: Traditionally, people may have pointed to campus recreation centers as the primary example of wellness-focused facilities. Today, the conversation is much broader as the definition of wellness expands beyond physical activity. Wellness, belonging, and accessibility need to be embedded throughout the student experience, from student centers and residence halls to informal gathering spaces and campus operations. Projects like the new student center at Johns Hopkins University reflect this shift by giving equal ambition to how a student center can support wellness on campus. CENTERS, B&D’s wholly owned subsidiary, is partnering with the institution to weave belonging and community throughout operations, which will ultimately support student mental health, social connection, and a stronger sense of place.
B&D: What are some of the most common pitfalls institutions encounter when planning facilities that will serve students for decades to come?
AC: One of the biggest challenges is balancing immediate visibility to the campus community with long-term value to the institution. Universities naturally want buildings that are attractive, inspiring, and reflective of their ambitions. Simultaneously, infrastructure systems, mechanical equipment, deferred maintenance, and other behind-the-scenes investments are critical to long-term operational effectiveness. Successful planning starts with a clear understanding of why a building is being created in the first place. When institutions establish that vision early, they have a framework for making decisions throughout the life of the facility, including when to invest in highly visible features and when to prioritize the systems that will keep the building functional, efficient, and adaptable over time.
B&D: Are there any trends you’re seeing across higher education that reflect the changing needs of today’s students?
AC: One trend I’m seeing is that institutions are becoming much more creative in how they use and reposition campus assets. Baltimore is an interesting higher education market because it reflects two ends of the higher ed spectrum. Some institutions are growing, investing heavily in facilities, and expanding their campuses. Others are rethinking how they use their real estate assets as space needs shift and larger facilities or campus growth may not support the mission of the institution. As a result, we’re seeing universities look more strategically at campus property, partnerships, and long-term development opportunities that align with their future state. My bold prediction is that we will see more collaboration between higher education institutions and private-sector partners as colleges and universities search for innovative ways to maximize the value of their campuses and meet changing student expectations.
Thank you again to Andrew for his participation in Ask the Expert. If you have a topic you’d like one of our experts to cover in a future column, submit it here.
