Strategic Space Reduction Plan
MU Campus Facilities-Space Planning & Management (SP&M) is working with the university’s master planner to define and move forward the Strategic Space Reduction and Relocation Plan. Its goal is to reduce deficient facility square footage in order to reallocate savings to buildings that improve and support student success, outreach and research.
SP&M is well suited for the challenge, as the department’s staff helps academic and other units across campus translate instruction, research and public service programs into physical facility needs.
- SP&M provides and maintains an accurate set of campus floor plans, space inventory data and campus maps for all campus-owned and leased facilities.
- SP&M also works with deans, department chairs, faculty and staff to develop new building programming studies, provide space utilization studies, and recommend space assignments and reassignments to the Chancellor and Provost.
As MU undergoes a campus-wide transformation outlined in the "The Flagship of the Future" strategic plan, a goal for Operations is to “reduce deficient facility square footage in order to reallocate savings to buildings that improve and support student success, outreach and research.” With a commitment to data-driven decision making and transparency, the Stewardship Model will be refined to include a process for space reduction and investing recaptured operations dollars to create, support and maintain existing and future high-performing buildings.
SP&M and the university’s master planner will coordinate space reduction and relocation efforts with university, college and school leadership, as well as other entities and divisions including Planning, Design & Construction; Energy Management; Landscape Services; the ADA and Disability Center; Parking and Transportation; Facility Operations; building coordinators and others.
Buildings on campus fall into two different categories, each with different funding models. Auxiliary spaces, such as a bookstore or residence hall, generate income, which they may use to fund repairs, renovation projects or new construction. Educational and General (E&G) spaces, also known as academic and administrative space, rely on general revenue allocation to fund maintenance repairs, renovations, demolition or new construction.
The facility condition needs index (FCNI) is an evaluation that determines what percentage of a building is deficient. The larger the number, the more deficient a building. At Mizzou, there are 42 buildings with an FCNI of over .40, meaning 40 percent of the building is deficient.
Even when unoccupied, these buildings require precious resources in terms of maintenance, labor and utilities.
Facility needs for campus total $927 million, with a growth rate of about $35 million in annual deferred maintenance. At the current growth rate, by 2026 the total projected deferred maintenance need will be more than $1 billion, and this is without adding a single square foot to E&G space.
While it appears that the easiest way to choose which buildings to improve, divest or demolish would be to start with those with the highest FCNI, the size and use of the structure must also be considered.
To move the space reduction plan forward, the MU master planner is working with Campus Facilities (Planning, Design & Construction and Space Planning & Management), standing committees, deans and department chairs using the following methodology:
- Identify existing buildings that would be good candidates for divestment or demolition.
- Buildings with an FCNI of 0.40 or greater
- Buildings that would be difficult to fully renovate and/or update due to existing structural system or layout
- Buildings that are not located on or near main campus
- Identify all Education and General main campus academic buildings that would be good receiving buildings, and create a matrix with the following information:
- FCNI rating below .40
- Existing building uses
- Departments housed in building
- Based on that matrix, remove building candidates that are highly specialized and therefore not appropriate as receiving buildings. Then identify buildings that can receive functions out of buildings being divested.
- Potential space to devote to other uses
- Opportunities for collaboration and/or resource sharing between current occupants and those being relocated into the building.
- Adjacencies that help the mission of learning and research.
- In buildings that meet Criteria 3, SP&M staff, along with the department chair or designee, will conduct building walkthrough and confirm or update current space utilization inventory.
- Based on criteria established in steps 1-3, above, create a recommended group of main campus buildings that would best accommodate new occupants. While re-accommodating uses in buildings below .40 remains a goal, other considerations will be assessed as part of the comprehensive study.
- Test fit-outs in recommended receiving buildings identified in step 3 and create diagrams to illustrate opportunities.
- Present recommendations and discuss potential fit-out diagrams with Campus Space Utilization Committee and Campus Facilities Planning Committee.
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| Transferred to MU Health System: |
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| In progress: | Mizzou North (demolition fall 2022 – winter 2023) |
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| Completed Projects: |
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