June 2024
The themes of Staff and Faculty Success and Stewardship and Sustainability are combining efforts to reimagine work at MSU.
MSU has embarked on a journey to reimagine the university’s footprint to reflect and prioritize the diverse needs of our campus community, focusing on the needs of students, staff and faculty while being good stewards of our resources to ensure long-term sustainability and success.
Following the approval of Vision 2025: An Integrated Facilities and Land Use Plan, MSU launched a new Workplace Strategic Framework Planning Study. The aim is to identify opportunities and
strategies for improving use of space in a post-pandemic environment while aligning with recommendations concerning the buildings, mobility networks, open spaces and utility systems that will support the university’s next generation of development.
“A campus like ours is truly a place where people come to live, study and work, and every physical place has a hand in building that community,” says Barb Kranz, assistant provost of Institutional Space Planning and Management. “The study will provide a better, more detailed understanding of how this space is used and how we can better serve that community. Campus space is also a critical strategic consideration, and managing it efficiently and effectively contributes to both a sustainable campus and a successful one for MSU’s most important resource — its people.”
With an initial focus on a set of 10 primarily administrative buildings, efforts are focused on data collection, analysis and in-person engagement. After the first phase, the planning committee will create functional and programmatic objectives, priorities and updated space policies or guidelines.
“The new reality of hybrid and remote work schedules needs to be considered, as enabling our faculty and staff to work in their best environment contributes to their continued success,” says Kranz.
The implementation of the Integrated Facilities and Land Use Plan with the beginning of the Workplace Strategic Framework Planning Study represents a significant step forward in aligning campus space use with the university’s long-term strategic goals of stewardship, sustainability and faculty and staff success. By engaging with experts and the campus community, MSU aims to optimize its physical resources to support a thriving academic and work environment.