Designing estates strategies fit for UK universities
Learning lessons
Can universities meet rising student demand and the green agenda while still reducing costs and inefficiency? Find out how several UK universities are improving their estates, even as they face increasing pressure to save.
There are seismic shifts taking place in higher education, and directors of estates are under greater pressure than ever before. At the forefront of their minds: meeting sustainability targets and cutting spending. At the same time, they are also coping with a greater influx of students with ever-rising standards for their educational facilities.
In meeting these seemingly conflicting demands, many estate directors are turning to their estates for answers. As the second biggest drain of a university’s balance sheet after salaries, property is the natural first place to search for savings. As many estates directors know, however, estates strategies can also unlock significant potential. Strategy, efficiency and certainty of delivery are essential components to meeting today’s needs and creating tomorrow’s educational legacy.
1. Strategy
Moving forward, universities' priority will be to protect front-line teaching and learning, which means high-spending estates departments will be prime targets for cuts, but estates are also one of an institution's greatest and most valuable assets. By stepping back and taking a more holistic look, estates directors might find they could free up money for much-needed renewal or expansion.
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In 2002, Brunel University decided to consolidate three west London campuses into one. In an article that includes an opinion piece by Peter Kerr, past chairman of AUDE and director of estates at Heriot-Watt, Brunel University and Mace reveal how releasing the greater possible value from a 10-year masterplan can empower a university to meet current and future needs.
2. Efficiency
In today’s economic climate, money is tight and it's only going to get tighter, but university estates directors must also accommodate increasing numbers of students. Coupled with the green agenda, which is requiring the sector to make dramatic reductions in carbon emissions to a very challenging timetable, the challenge is driving universities to drive greater efficiencies into new and existing buildings. Two key areas: the use of space within buildings and the amount of energy used to heat, cool and operate them.
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The University of the West of England saw an opportunity to consoidate its disparate locations when the land adjoining the Frenchay campus in Bristol was vacated by Hewlett-Packard. An article including an opinion piece by Ian Caldwell, director of estates at Kings College London, Mace and the University of West of England explain how efficiency can improve educational outcomes and raise sustainability profiles.
3. Delivery
It's not only students who feel the pressure of deadlines; estates directors know that if a project isn't delivered on time, the penalties can be severe. They have to engage with the many stakeholders throughout the institution and outside, meet the technical demands of the latest standards for sustainable buildings, and achieve more with a dwindling stream of funding.
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Over the last five years, Oxford University has taken on numerous projects worth £100m, presenting many complex technical challenges. In an article featuring an opinion piece from John Tomkiss, chief operating officer at Unite, Mace and Oxford reveal the importance of reliable delivery.
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