Higher education institutions have improved their utilization of classroom and office space, according to a report by Occuspace, an occupancy platform company. The report found that daily peak utilization has increased by 6 to 8 basis points compared to the previous year, with institutions seeing higher utilization in classrooms, offices, open workspaces, and study spaces.
Despite this progress, there is still room for improvement, as small and medium conference rooms remain empty 73% of the work week, and classrooms sit unoccupied almost a third of the time between regular working hours. Classroom and office utilization rates have measured their biggest year-over-year gain since post-COVID recovery began, rising to 47% and 45% respectively.
If the trend holds, utilization should reach 50% by this fall, according to Occuspace CEO Nic Halverson. However, classroom and office use still falls short of the 70% to 85% targets most institutions have set. Large institutions with registrar-controlled central scheduling are more efficient with classroom use, but not with their offices, due to research faculty often holding multiple offices.
The report highlights opportunities for savings through optimizing existing space, including reducing HVAC use and custodial cleaning. By using data to optimize space, institutions could reap savings of 30 to 60 cents per square foot annually on custodial cleaning and HVAC costs, and up to $40 per square foot per year by shedding leases.
Institutions could also avoid new construction costs, which can amount to $600 per square foot. Design firm BHDP has worked with universities to optimize their space, such as Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati and Bethany College in West Virginia. For Mount St. Joseph University, BHDP added a contemporary entrance, a centrally located information bar, and student spaces organized around a town square concept, creating a more inviting library.
At Bethany College, BHDP expanded the fitness center by absorbing underused racquetball courts, tripling student capacity and avoiding the cost of a dedicated new facility. BHDP notes that “building space optimization through creative reconfiguration” can help campuses meet student needs without overextending budgets.
As institutions continue to optimize their space, they may see significant savings in the future. With the potential to reach 50% utilization by this fall, institutions can look forward to reducing costs and improving the overall efficiency of their campuses. By making small changes, such as adding information bars or reconfiguring underused spaces, institutions can create ripple effects that benefit both the school and its students.
The trend of increasing utilization rates is a positive sign for higher education institutions, which can now focus on making the most of their existing space. As Occuspace CEO Nic Halverson noted, institutions can reap significant savings by optimizing their space, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years.
They will continue to make the most of their existing space.
