When academic institutions face space constraints, the instinct is often to focus on what comes next: a new building, an addition or a campus expansion. Yet after working alongside colleges, universities and independent schools throughout New England, we’ve noticed a pattern: the most successful capital projects often begin with a better understanding of what already exists.
Former library reimagined as a health & wellness center at Groton School
The question isn’t always whether an institution needs more space. It’s whether existing buildings are aligned with how students learn, faculty teach and programs operate today. Taking a closer look at existing facilities often reveals opportunities that can help institutions address immediate needs while informing longer-term capital planning.
Repositioning Existing Space for Greater Impact
One thing we’ve observed across academic campuses is that building limitations are not always the same as space limitations. In many cases, targeted renovations, infrastructure upgrades or strategic reconfigurations can help institutions support evolving programs, improve the student experience and extend the usefulness of existing facilities—without the cost, disruption or timeline associated with new construction.
Over the past several years, our partnership with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has demonstrated how this approach can succeed in practice. Working hand in hand with facilities teams, architects and engineers, these incremental renovations have allowed spaces to evolve alongside changing academic and research needs, including:
- Reconfiguring an existing advising space created a more collaborative student support environment, helping MIT improve engagement and service delivery without requiring additional square footage.
- Upgrading infrastructure and equipment within active lab environments, enabling continued support for evolving research through focused improvements rather than full-scale renovation.
- Enhancing conference and workplace areas to improve functionality, comfort and access to technology through carefully scoped work that minimizes disruption and unnecessary cost.
This same collaborative approach continues to help other institutions of all shapes and sizes achieve similar outcomes:
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Renovation to revitalize Bentley University’s Koumantzelis Auditorium
At Bentley University, modernizing Koumantzelis Auditorium improved its ability to support performances and events, ultimately enhancing the experience for students, performers and audiences alike through a strategic reinvestment.
- At the German International School, targeted renovations to the existing upper school reshaped learning spaces to better support older students, improving functionality while accommodating the school’s evolving campus model.
- At Groton School, repurposing underutilized space within a historic building enabled the introduction of a dedicated wellness center, delivering meaningful program expansion within the existing structure.
Across these examples, the pattern is consistent: impactful improvements don’t always require more space or major capital projects. They come from a thoughtful evaluation of how existing facilities can better support institutional priorities and a clear understanding of what improvements are realistically achievable within the current built environment.
Making Smarter Decisions Before Expanding
Of course, not every campus challenge can be solved within an existing footprint and many institutions ultimately require new facilities to support growth and evolving needs. Understanding the full potential of existing buildings first provides a clearer picture of what can be achieved through renovation, what may require expansion and how each option impacts cost, schedule and campus operations.
Bringing design and construction expertise into the conversation early helps institutions evaluate these options through feasibility studies, budgeting, constructability reviews and phasing analysis. The result is greater clarity, more informed decision-making and capital investments that are aligned with long-term institutional goals.
This article is part of our Academic Insight Series. Up next: When expansion is the answer, how can institutions ensure new projects deliver the most and advance multiple strategic priorities at once?
