2019
FACILITIES &
CONSTRUCTION BRIEF
An Overview of the Education
Construction Scene
SURVEY ON COLLEGE CONSTRUCTION
Did you COMPLETE any construction projects in 2018?
No construction completed in 2018
25%
57%
Major renovations/modernizations
Additions to existing building(s)
New/replacement building(s)
22%
31%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Will you COMPLETE any construction projects in 2019?
No construction scheduled for completion 21%
Major renovations/modernizations
Additions to existing building(s)
New/replacement building(s) 22%
60%
25%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Will you START any construction projects in 2019?
No construction scheduled to start 21%
Major renovations/modernizations
Additions to existing building(s)
New/replacement building(s) 23%
55%
33%
0%
10%
What is your opinion on the funds available
for construction compared to last year?
Fewer funds are available
22%
34%
11%
33%
No change in available funds
More funds are becoming available
Don’t know
Survey Respondents: 215 colleges and universities responded to this survey among 44 states.
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• S eventy-five percent of institutions surveyed completed
construction in 2018.
• S eventy-nine percent of institutions surveyed are planning
to start construction projects in 2019.
• M
ajor renovations and modernizations of existing facilities
will continue to be the focus.
• W
hile 22 percent of survey respondents feel that more funds for
construction are becoming available (up from 18 percent last year),
33 percent (up slightly from last year’s 29 percent) feel that fewer
funds are available.
OTHER ISSUES FACING INSTITUTIONS
• A
ging workforce/labor shortage in skilled
trades. Increasing building complexity.
Technical personnel are difficult to find.
• A
ging equipment. Loss of qualified employees
to other jobs that can pay higher wages.
• G
etting Facilities to understand the importance
of technology that is installed in the building.
• F
inding qualified consultants who give non-
self-serving advice; have a bigger picture in
mind that complements the current work
construction with best practices, good
ROI, and life-cycle analysis prior to giving
recommendations.
• Divisions between academic units and FM.
• S wing space to facilitate renewal and renovation
on a growing campus.
• C
ompressed schedules impacting the quality of
the finished product.
• S cheduling work around continuing academic
requirements as well as continuing events on
campus. Access to work in occupied buildings.
• Having the budget to accomplish deferred
maintenance work, which is directly related to
student enrollment. But, obviously, both of these
challenges are directly related to funding.
• C
apital funding. Facility, equipment, and
infrastructure requests typically exceed
available funding. Capacity of donors to give to
new capital projects.
• S takeholder focus and general communication
issues.
• O
ld buildings. Prices of new equipment; HVAC
is very expensive.
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