Space Management is Having Its Heydey: Why Higher Ed Finally Gets It.

I’ve worked in higher education long enough to remember when space management was seen as a back-office task rather than a strategic one. Facilities teams and space managers were included in projects, but usually only to carry out decisions that had already been made. Their role was to validate requests, provide technical details, or execute on an established plan—not to help shape the solution from the outset.

That’s not the world we’re living in anymore.

Today, space management is having its heyday, and I believe that’s one of the most important shifts happening in higher education.

From Back Office to Strategy

The pandemic permanently changed the role of space management. Decisions about cleaning protocols, instructional delivery, and even student wellness were suddenly tied to how campus space was used. That elevated space planners into strategic conversations where we had never been before.

And once you’ve seen the value of space strategy, you can’t go back.

Space as Student Success Infrastructure

The right space strategy looks different depending on the student body. At NC State, a residential institution, in-person classrooms and community gathering spaces are central. At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where the average student is older and more likely to commute, investments in commuter lounges and flexible study spaces make more sense.

Understanding who your students are, and how they live, learn, and work, is essential. Space is not neutral. It either supports your students, or it doesn’t.

From Politics to Stewardship

I’ve also seen the other side: when space decisions are driven by politics, donors, or the loudest voices in the room. That model is unsustainable. The institutions that are leading now are those that embrace data-informed stewardship and make decisions based on mission alignment and impact.

Why This Moment Matters

Space management is no longer just about square footage or deferred maintenance. It’s more clearly understood as a lever for enrollment, retention, and long-term resilience.

Space management is having its heyday. The question is, how will your institution rise to the moment?