Riley Construction recently renovated Madison Area Technical College’s Student Affairs Advising, Career and Transfer Center in Madison, Wis., all while maintaining building operations. | Photo Credit (all): Riley Construction
By Chris Meier, LEED AP
Driven by a growing need to modernize aging facilities and adapt to shifting enrollment patterns and new models of academic delivery, the higher education construction market is projected to reach $102 billion by 20341.
From new STEM labs to recreational centers, colleges and universities are reimagining their physical environments to recruit and retain students. Yet, success in campus transformation depends on more than design and construction. It hinges on partnership.
A trusted construction partner isn’t just a vendor. They act as an extension of the institution, aligning with mission and values, anticipating challenges, and stewarding resources responsibly. For administrators embarking on new building projects, selecting the right construction partner can mean the difference between a project that merely meets specifications and one that advances institutional goals for decades to come.
Here are five key questions that administrators should consider when selecting a construction partner.
Do You Have Trust in the Team?
One of the first questions you should ask is, “Are these people I feel comfortable working with?”
Leadership teams need to have confidence in their project team, believing that they have their best interests at heart and are listening and responding with honest feedback. Beyond technical expertise, they should consistently demonstrate reliability and consistency as partners. Always ask for and review testimonials from other clients who have been through a similar process. Asking other customers smart questions about their experience will uncover a lot about a firm’s values and integrity.
Do They Elevate the Planning Process?
When interviewing contractors, determine how they will engage with your stakeholders from the outset of the planning process. Having a partner who can understand and articulate the school’s mission and aspirations will ensure that design plans align with organizational master plans and provide long-term site continuity. Is the construction team meeting early with the architect and campus planners to validate goals and question assumptions about every aspect of the project? Will they ask questions like, “How much is the current operation costing and how can it be more efficiently built in from the start?”
A well-organized team that takes time to understand current operational challenges, such as poor layouts or outdated mechanical systems, will be much more effective in reimagining a new or renovated campus building.
Understanding the team’s estimation process is also crucial. Most contractors use historical data to calculate budgets, but today clients should expect customized rates that consider a combination of client needs, project specs, and current local market conditions and pricing to create a more accurate cost estimate.
These are key steps, considering that 98% of large-scale construction projects go over budget by an average of 65%. 2 A true partner will study an institution’s operations and make recommendations before the shovel hits the ground. This kind of robust preconstruction process identifies risks early and helps avoid costly retrofits later.
Will They Adapt to Needs and Schedule?
Higher education institutions comprise numerous stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff and external groups such as community members, neighbors, board members, alumni, vendors and donors. Construction projects on campus will increasingly be opportunities to knit together academic, residential, wellness and civic domains, and a construction partner needs to be sensitive to the diverse needs and concerns that will inevitably arise with these groups.
The project management team also needs to carefully balance workflow schedules and safety, along with other factors such as designing construction around academic terms, class schedules and high-traffic periods to minimize potential issues. Engaging an experienced builder that can strategize phasing and sequencing of work, understands campus complexities and is invested in student success results in a successful project execution rooted in trust. For example, Riley Construction recently renovated Madison Area Technical College’s Student Affairs Advising, Career and Transfer Center in Madison, Wis., all while maintaining building operations. The team was able to deliver a modern, student-centered facility through constant outreach to key staff and phased sequencing of construction.
Are They Relentless Communicators?
Transparent and frequent communications build trust between construction and higher education partners. It also goes a long way towards managing expectations and minimizing anxiety and potential misunderstandings throughout the project. The most effective project construction partners over-communicate, anticipate conflicts, and provide regular updates to school administrators, staff and other stakeholders.
Successful construction partners also understand that empathy and active listening are often the most challenging aspects of effective communication. Collaboration exists only when a builder is mindful of the perspective of the institution’s stakeholders, deeply understands the challenges experienced within the campus leadership and can process this information into a solution-oriented built environment. This creates a much higher level of excitement about the work and the ultimate celebration for the finished school structure.
Are They Forward Looking?
A construction team that sees the big picture and can envision the institution’s long-term vision will consider how to build for future needs, not just today’s. The next generation of classrooms, labs and communal spaces will need to adapt to learning shifts such as artificial intelligence (AI labs) maker spaces or hybrid learning hubs.
As campuses continue to evolve and experience changes in the way existing facility footprints are utilized, there remains a growing need to maintain continuity and connection of campus services. Your construction partner should have the foresight to design a flexible infrastructure with adaptable floor plans, collaborative spaces, and modular methods. For example, renovating underutilized or outdated spaces, such as converting an old dormitory into academic offices or classrooms.
Transforming higher education campuses isn’t just about completing a building; it’s about cultivating trust, foresight, and alignment between partners. Institutions that invest the time to choose the right collaborator are better positioned to create environments that truly advance their mission.
Chris Meier is LEED AP Project Executive for Riley Construction, headquartered in Kenosha Wis., which has built a culture around four key values — Humility, Integrity, Flexibility and Initiative — that serve as the core of all their work relationships.