Side of Design
A podcast from BWBR, for those with a craving to take their organizations and spaces to new heights, with a side of design. We explore topics and issues affecting how we heal, learn, work, research, play and pray with those whose passion and expertise centers on the spaces that enable us to do all of that.
Side of Design
Side Notes: Rethinking Campus, One Challenge at a Time
n the latest episode of Side Notes, BWBR’s Education Practice Leader Greg Fenton joins us to take a closer look at the ever-evolving higher education landscape. In a quick conversation packed with meaningful insights, we explore how design can widen the horizons of learning and breathe new life into college campuses, bringing inventive solutions that address education’s greatest challenges.
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Matt: 00:00
Welcome to Side Notes, the bite-sized version of Side of Design. In 15 minutes or less, we'll explore one idea, one insight, or one conversation worth hearing. Let's get to it.
Matt: 00:03
Welcome to Side Notes, the bite-sized version of Side of Design. I'm your host, Matt Gerstner, and joining me today is Greg Fenton, principal, director, and education practice leader with BWBR. We're going to take a closer look at the education market today. Greg, thanks for making time to be here.
Greg: 00:28
Glad to be here, Matt. Thank you.
Matt: 00:03
We're just going to get right into it. We're not going to waste any time. So, what are you most excited about in the education market today?
Greg: 00:36
I think my excitement and the excitement of our staff is coming from and kind of generating from the challenges that we're seeing our clients have.
Matt: 00:45
Okay.
Greg: 00:46
The ones that come to mind that are maybe different or unique or new uh include, you know, that word of AI. It seems like you just can't escape it these days. And as AI penetrates into the education market, and specifically higher ed, I guess, is where my mind is. Um, what can come of that? I don't think our clients know fully. And none of us do, but in terms of curriculums and individual classes and setting, you know, just what are, what could happen from all of that? And then obviously as it trickles down to resources and space and existing utility that they have at the campus or the institution, I think is evolving every single day. And the great part of that is that the know that there is this challenge ahead. Might not know the answer, but right they love to have people like us at the table, along with a lot of other voices to kind of help solve and chart a path forward. So that's one.
I think we have another, well I'll start I'll loop back. Many institutions these days have moratoriums on any new square feet. They realize they have plenty of building stock. Much of it's aging. So that presents a challenge for resources that we're helping become kind of professional rehabilitationists, so to speak. Which is always fun to kind of repurpose and adapt existing buildings, or as we put a laboratory in a building that's never had a lab in it before. Wonderful challenges that we've gotten quite good and creative with. But they have these challenges of understanding how they're using their buildings, which we can help them with utilization and so forth, using data they may or may not have. And then understanding, yes, you can adapt these buildings for new uses and helping them at least at a preliminary level to help them understand how they may need to invest going forward. And so we can play a part of that, and it's a wonderful challenge that's even more prevalent today than it has been in the past. And then I guess the last one I think is even more so. You know, there is a race for the student. The number of students is down. We've all heard that in the news. And we have, in fact, we have one client, they're a private institution, private university that has the slogan of, we know kind of ‘winner takes all.’
Matt: 03:48
Okay.
Greg: 03:49
Their slogan is ‘winner takes most.’ And when you phrase it like that, I think A, it manages expectations, obviously.
Matt: 04:01
Oh, for sure, for sure.
Greg: 04:02
But they see themselves competing against public schools and public institutions or state institutions in particular. So they know tha they're only gonna get so much, so they manage accordingly.
Matt: 04:17
Yeah.
Greg: 04:18
Or win so many of those students over to bring them onto campus.
Matt: 04:22
Oh, for sure.
Greg: 04:23
They're planning accordingly and investing accordingly, which does influence, you know, some of their ideas and how we get involved and so forth. But it's you know, that challenge is a great opportunity as well. So when you when you ask about kind of excitement and challenges and/or excitement, for me it's you know what are the challenges?
Matt: 04:50
Yeah, I can see that. I can see how those will be intertwined. I mean, you mentioned AI, and the world is just on the cusp of what AI is even going to be capable of, and nobody knows. So that I can see how that's super exciting. And then when you talked about the reuse of existing facilities, what a fantastic thing to do from a sustainability standpoint, if nothing else, you know? Yeah, just a lot of great excitement, a lot of great challenges there, and fun to be part of them. So, when you're thinking about those challenges and that excitement, what do you love about designing for this market? What is it?
Greg: 05:29
You know, we as architects and interior designers and so forth, all of us have a passion to impact lives and you know, education is such a formative time of one's life. You know, everybody has those memories of a person teaching or of a faculty member educating or training or that fourth grade teacher that made such an indelible imprint on one's life. Being part of that story and being able to help those people succeed in sharing their knowledge and expertise and allowing them to teach in the highest capacity continues to be a passion. And you know it's incredible. Architecture can impact lives. The space that people design or architects and designers design can influence and make positive impact on one's life, and it's never not rewarding to see a reaction or give someone the best opportunity to succeed and learn and grow in that way. So, you know it's a great market. The camaraderie is fantastic at an institution or even a single school.
Matt: 07:10
Oh I'm sure.
Greg: 07:11
People are passionate and passionate about what they do and all work towards the same thing.
Matt: 07:20
Absolutely love it. So, when you're thinking about what you love about it, what your passions are, what is it that inspires you in your design and what you do?
Greg: 07:30
You know, the inspiration can come from many, many places. Usually, you know, one's own experience is something to draw on. And when we travel to a variety of schools or work at a variety of institutions or universities or colleges, you know, I see opportunities of way of how people are doing things.
Matt: 08:07
Oh yeah.
Greg: 08:08
And then also envision kind of you know the what ifs. What if we did it a little different, or uh there's room for improvement on that. And then bringing those stories back, sharing them with clients, other clients, or people in the industry, or even facility directors for that matter. Or campus engineers for that matter. I get inspired when I see others trying new things, or seeing things that I didn't know and learn from it. You know, contemporary learning. I'm curious.
Matt: 09:05
Yeah, that's a good thinge
Greg: 09:06
Yeah, curiosity is a great thing. Never stop asking questions. Yeah, start at or keep asking the what-ifs. Yeah. So, I guess inspiration for me comes from my environment and the environments that I put myself in, and see how other people live and work and play and bring that back to the work.
Matt: 09:19
I absolutely love it. Greg, can't thank you enough for your time today. Appreciate you making time to be here.
Greg: 09:24
Appreciate you, Matt. Thanks.
Matt: 09:26
Fantastic. And to our listeners, thanks for joining us today, and we'll see you again soon.
