Community Engagement in Higher Ed
Lynn Student Center, Gensler
the road for one year and translates to
an equivalent greenhouse gas reduction
of 2,722 metric tons.
The Outcomes: What Does Com-
munity Engagement Enable?
The last step is to achieve actual
growth. We knew that development
would be critical to any construction
projects, so, arm in arm with Lynn,
we sought to build with a mission
and purpose. No construction was to
occur unless is was to build nimble and
flexible spaces that integrate long-term,
sustainable strategies. We leveraged
the masterplan with stakeholders to im-
prove buy-in, excite change and inspire
new ideas.
Donors became invigorated when
they saw Lynn’s commitment to better-
ing the campus and how invested the
stakeholders were in the masterplan’s
forward motion. As the chilled water
plant set the groundwork for growth,
that investment by the University
inspired the donation of a new athletic
facility to support the National Cham-
pion Soccer and Lacrosse teams, a new
Business School and a new housing
building. We are now looking forward to
celebrating the success of this master-
plan and the generous gift of another
long time supporter of the University on
February 7, 2019, when we complete
the fifth new building and 11th project
on campus, the University Center.
Every aspect of this initiative’s suc-
cess is a testament to what community
engagement can achieve. An approach
like this combined with Lynn Univer-
sity’s open-minded, progressive lead-
ership is an inspirational blueprint for
how to design for education’s growth. n
DANA MULLER, AIA, LEED AP is a
Senior Associate at Gensler. She brings
more than 15 years of experience in the
design and
execution of
spaces for
learning to
her role as
Education
Practice
Area leader
in Gensler’s
Tampa
office.
essentials | www.edmarket.org 13