By Chris Meier, LEED AP��

Driven by a growing need to modernize aging facilities and adapt to shifting enrollment patterns and new models of academic delivery, the higher education construction market is projected to reach $102 billion by 2034.������

From new STEM labs to recreational centers, colleges and universities are reimagining their physical environments to recruit and retain students. Yet, success in campus transformation depends on more than design and construction. It hinges on partnership.��

A trusted construction partner isn’t just a vendor. They act as an extension of the institution, aligning with mission and values, anticipating challenges, and stewarding resources responsibly. For administrators embarking on new building projects, selecting the right construction partner can mean the difference between a project that merely meets specifications and one that advances institutional goals for decades to come.��

Here are five key questions that administrators should consider when selecting a construction partner.��

��Do You Have Trust in the Team?��

One of the first questions you should ask is, “Are these people I feel comfortable working with?” ��

Leadership teams need to have confidence in their project team, believing that they have their best interests at heart and are listening and responding with honest feedback. Beyond technical expertise, they should consistently demonstrate reliability and consistency as partners.�� Always ask for and review testimonials from other clients who have been through a similar process. Asking other customers smart questions about their experience will uncover a lot about a firm’s values and integrity. ��

Do They Elevate the Planning Process?��������

When interviewing contractors, determine how they will engage with your stakeholders from the outset of the planning process.�� Having a partner who can understand and articulate the school’s mission and aspirations will ensure that design plans align with organizational master plans and provide long-term site continuity. Is the construction team meeting early with the architect and campus planners to validate goals and question assumptions about every aspect of the project? Will they ask questions like, “How much is the current operation costing and how can it be more efficiently built in from the start?”��

A well-organized team that takes time to understand current operational challenges, such as poor layouts or outdated mechanical systems, will be much more effective in reimagining a new or renovated campus building.����

Understanding the team’s estimation process is also crucial. Most contractors use historical data to calculate budgets, but today clients should expect customized rates that consider a combination of client needs, project specs, and current local market conditions and pricing to create a more accurate cost estimate.����

These are key steps, considering that 98% of large-scale construction projects go over budget by an average of 65%. 2 A true partner will study an institution’s operations and make recommendations before the shovel hits the ground. This kind of robust preconstruction process identifies risks early and helps avoid costly retrofits later.��

Will They Adapt to Needs and Schedule?��

Higher education institutions comprise numerous stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff and external groups such as community members, neighbors, board members, alumni, vendors and donors. Construction projects on campus will increasingly be opportunities to knit together academic, residential, wellness and civic domains, and a construction partner needs to be sensitive to the diverse needs and concerns that will inevitably arise with these groups.����

The project management team also needs to carefully balance workflow schedules and safety, along with other factors such as designing construction around academic terms, class schedules and high-traffic periods to minimize potential issues. Engaging an experienced builder that can strategize phasing and sequencing of work, understands campus complexities and is invested in student success results in a successful project execution rooted in trust. For example, Riley Construction recently renovated Madison Area Technical College’s Student Affairs Advising, Career and Transfer Center in Madison, Wis., all while maintaining building operations. The team was able to deliver a modern, student-centered facility through constant outreach to key staff and phased sequencing of construction.��

Are They Relentless Communicators?��

Transparent and frequent communications build trust between construction and higher education partners.��It also goes a long way towards managing expectations and minimizing anxiety and potential misunderstandings throughout the project.��The most effective project construction partners over-communicate, anticipate conflicts, and provide regular updates to school administrators, staff and other stakeholders.����

Successful construction partners also understand that empathy and active listening are often the most challenging aspects of effective communication. Collaboration exists only when a builder is mindful of the perspective of the institution’s stakeholders, deeply understands the challenges experienced within the campus leadership and can process this information into a solution-oriented built environment. This creates a much higher level of excitement about the work and the ultimate celebration for the finished school structure.��

Are They Forward Looking?��

A construction team that sees the big picture and can envision the institution’s long-term vision will consider how to build for future needs, not just today’s. The next generation of classrooms, labs and communal spaces will need to adapt to learning shifts such as artificial intelligence (AI labs) maker spaces or hybrid learning hubs.����

As campuses continue to evolve and experience changes in the way existing facility footprints are utilized, there remains a growing need to maintain continuity and connection of campus services. Your construction partner should have the foresight to design a flexible infrastructure with adaptable floor plans, collaborative spaces, and modular methods. For example, renovating underutilized or outdated spaces, such as converting an old dormitory into academic offices or classrooms.��

Transforming higher education campuses isn’t just about completing a building; it’s about cultivating trust, foresight, and alignment between partners. Institutions that invest the time to choose the right collaborator are better positioned to create environments that truly advance their mission.��

Chris Meier is LEED AP Project Executive for , headquartered in Kenosha Wis., which has built a culture around four key values —�� — that serve as the core of all their work relationships. ����

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MILWAUKEE, Wis.—Earlier this year, a dedication ceremony was held in Milwaukee, Wisc. for the first phase of Marquette University’s new $24 million Athletic and Human Performance Research Center (AHPRC).

The 46,000-square-foot innovative multi-purpose facility is the new permanent home for men’s and women’s lacrosse and men’s golf, and combines training, testing and research all under one roof. It also integrates athletics and research to develop new fitness technologies and advance the use of data analytics to improve performance and include those of athletes with special needs.

The first phase of this project was designed by architecture and design firm Perkins and Will and multidisciplinary design firm HGA Architects. Mortenson Construction is the general contractor on this project.

There was an urgency in that in their six years of existence, the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams have been without permanent locker room space. This new facility has given Marquette a competitive advantage for recruiting, according to Christopher Stolarski, Associate Director of University Communication. Player development and program culture have been enhanced by combining locker, office and training facilities, with key fitness research being conducted onsite.

Additionally, the AHPRC launched a pilot award program designed to facilitate and foster collaborative health- and performance-related research between disciplines. The first four pilot award winners were announced recently. Projects focus on stroke rehabilitation, diabetes, student-athlete injuries and concussion recovery.

“Our team has approached Phase 1 with a focus on refined design, high-caliber building materials, appropriate site use, and preparing the AHPRC for future expansion,” explains Lindsey Peckinpaugh, leader of Perkins and Will’s Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment practice in the Chicago studio.

“We view this as a project that will allow Marquette to serve unmet needs of its athletic program and advance the university’s commitment to research on athletic and human performance,” she adds.

This first completed phase includes space for faculty researchers, locker rooms and support space for lacrosse and golf teams, and strength and conditioning space for the athletic department. It also includes a team film room, and research and bio-assessment labs.

“Our partnership with Perkins and Will and HGA brought to bear a facility that does something truly unique in bringing together under the same roof an elite Division I NCAA athletics program and world-class researchers in human performance, rehabilitation and exercise science,” says Lora Strigens, Marquette’s vice president for planning and facilities management.

“Every step of the way, our design partners took great care to understand the needs of our student athletes, our researchers and how to create synergies between the two,” she adds.

The biggest project challenge so far has been from a design perspective. Peckinpaugh says a significant driver in this project was the need to meet aggressive speed-to-market demands.

“This resulted in phasing the project to deliver new athletic spaces as quickly as possible, which kept the project moving efficiently; minimizing disruption while balancing the needs of the research program and all sport and strength conditioning spaces.”

With the interior design, Stolarski says it was important to “meld” the aesthetics and branding surrounding the building’s athletic and research components.

“Utilizing a refined finish palette allowed both program components to interweave into the overall building design, and complementary branding design elements to contribute to the ‘wow’ factor for both athletics and research,” he explains.

“Phasing also influenced the architectural design as well, as it became critically important to ensure that Phase 1 felt completed, but also allowed for seamless integration with future phases,” adds Russell Wilson, project architect with HGA, who led the exterior design and served as associate architect and structural engineer of record.

“The design team resolved this challenge through the use of strong vertical rhythm and exterior features, such as sunshades and horizontal projections, and by borrowing from the material palettes of other campus buildings,” he says.

Key features of the impressive project include:

• Branded lockers for the players, customized for each sport.
• A customized engagement process that prioritized the input of players, coaches, researchers.
• A tailored approach to this facility which sets it up for easy phasing in the future.
• A team film room where teams and coaches can have larger meetings or review game and practice films.
• Generously daylit strength and conditioning space that coaches call a “game changer.” This space includes a turf area and cardio mezzanine that overlooks the entire space.
• Nutrition options to aid in post-workout recovery.
• Research and bio-assessment labs to analyze athlete fitness and training data, with the goal to improve performance and training methods in both Athletics and other programs.

The AHPRC is part of a long-term master plan that will be built in phases. Perkins and Will, HGA and Marquette are currently discussing what elements may be in the second phase of the facility. Marquette University will also continue to address the needs of its athletic program and be responsive to research growth over time.

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Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) staff, parents, students, community members, Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA), Oliver Construction and Nicholas & Associates all participated in the festivities. (All three companies working on the project have offices in Wisconsin.)

EUA was chosen to design the new 112,000-square-foot elementary school that will host 675 students and include open classrooms with moveable glass walls, administration spaces and a cafeteria with a social stair and stage area. The design showcases modern learning environments through the use of increased daylighting, an emphasis on collaboration and a substantial flexibility to support current and future learning needs.

“One of the aspects of the project that we are most proud of is the way that the students and staff were able to participate in the design process,” said Bob Morris, senior design architect for EUA. “This started with surveys of the students, and included Q and A sessions with the architects for students at each grade level of the school. A visionary team of staff members was established to work in tandem with the architects to develop a new model for how education would work in the finished school. The final design is a result of several workshops with this dedicated team, and then several additional meetings with all staff members to develop the final details.”

Morris added that the resulting design is a truly student-centered environment, bursting with a mix of varied educational spaces for different educational methodologies. Even the more-traditional large group spaces open directly onto flexible, grade-level learning commons, which Morris said allows students to break out into different areas and grouping based on their educational needs. The design intends to minimize traditional corridor space and create a building that is compact, energy-efficient and heavy on natural light.

The exterior design of Meadow View Elementary, he explained, is designed to fit into the prairie on which it is built. Low horizontal angles embrace the horizon and open up towards views of the surrounding natural environment. The natural stone, brick, wood, metal panel and glass are intended to create a timeless design that is rooted in nature but looks towards the future. The large entrance canopy is another hallmark of the design.

On April 9, the OASD School Board approved the Guaranteed Maximum Price of $27.32 million for the new school. This cost is $1.01 million below the pre-referendum budget, attributable to a competitive bid environment. The project’s completion date is set for August 2019.

Since the start of the facility referendum process in 2016, the OASD has had a solid partnership with the city of Oconomowoc and St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. In January 2017, the OASD School Board secured a contract to purchase 20.2 acres of land off Brown Street/Hwy P, for the new Meadow View School. This location is approximately 1 mile south of the current school site and directly adjacent to a property owned by St. Matthew’s.

With both locations set within the city of Oconomowoc and directly adjacent to each other, it made sense for OASD, St. Matthew’s and the city to work in partnership to develop the corridor. This partnership will result in a new Meadow View School, new St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and School, and new city of Oconomowoc Park, all equipped with complete roadways and sidewalks along with city sewer and electric.

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