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Overall, physical campus space has not kept up with the increasing pace of change in higher education, particularly in the areas of learning and teaching, study, and workplace environments, where greater adaptability is needed and greater efficiency is possible.

Drivers of space utilization vary between the various schools and colleges. Many findings, however, are shared across units and space types.

Facility condition data reveals that there is a disparity in space quality from building to building, and 42% of space is located within buildings flagged as having “severe” condition issues by University condition assessments. Renovations to address condition issues are important opportunities to modernize space, but they must be forward-thinking to anticipate future changes and allow for flexibility.

The space utilization assessment found strategic opportunities to share or consolidate space to address deficiencies and promote collaboration and access to resources. To capitalize on these opportunities, improvements in reporting, management, and operation of space use will be needed.

NOTE: Circle sized by total space use in NASF

  • Pink: Classroom
  • Fuschia: Class Laboratory
  • Navy: Research Laboratory
  • Purple: Dining/Food Facilities
  • Dark Green: Athletics
  • Light Green: Field
  • Yellow: Student Housing
  • Aqua: Student Spaces
    (Assembly, Exhibition, Lounge, Merchandising/Retail, Recreation, Media Production, etc.)
https://apps.fo.unc.edu/facilities/master-plan-2019/?chart=total-net-assignable-square-feet
https://apps.fo.unc.edu/facilities/master-plan-2019/?chart=non-residential-net-assignable-square-feet

Data Inputs

Utilization
Hours Number of hours
Classroom
Weekly student contact hours 297,933
Class Laboratories
Weekly student contact hours 24,816
Other
Source Quantity
Library and Study
Print Collection 7,079,095
Study Seats 7,292
People
Type Number
Undergraduate Student FTE 20,464
Graduate Student FTE 6,514
Professional FTE 2,559
Total Student FTE 29,537
Administrative/Staff FTE 8,271
Faculty FTE 3,655
Non-Residential Space
Type NASF Percent Total
Classroom 345,297 5%
Instructional Lab 283,390 4%
Research 1,303,398 18%
Office 2,616,783 36%
Library and Study 686,097 9%
Assembly and Exhibit 274,374 4%
Other Space 743,986 10%
Athletics 566,210 8%
Recreation 229,265 3%
Student-Centered Space 278,826 4%
Total NASF 7,327,626 100%
Non-Residential Space Condition
Type Percent Severe
Classroom 37%
Instructional Lab 48%
Research 12%
Office 23%
Library and Study 41%
Assembly and Exhibit 24%
Other Space 15%
Athletics 10%
Recreation 3%
Student-Centered Space 13%

Space Metrics

Classroom
Metric Target Actual UNC 2015
Weekly Room Hours 35 24
Percent of Seats Filled 65% 70%
NASF/Seat 25 20
Research Lab
Metric Target Actual UNC 2015
R&D Expenditures per T/TT Faculty TBD $389,580
R&D Expenditures per NASF TBD $683
NASF per T/TT Faculty TBD 583
NASF per $100K in R&D Expenditure TBD 146
Office
Metric Target Actual UNC 2015
Average NASF Per Office 120 165
Average NASF Per Seat 100 104
Percent Service Space 18-21% 21%
Percent Conference Space 20% 12%
Library and Study
Metric Target Actual UNC 2015
Study Seats as Percent of Students 25% 23%
NASF per Study Seat 30-35 21
Percent of Library Service Space 15% 17%
Recreation
Metric Target Actual UNC 2015
Total Acres of Fields and Courts 27-38 8.4
Total Dedicated Indoor Recreation 261-287,000 229,265
Student Space
Metric Target Actual UNC 2015
NASF Per Student 10 8

Key

Pink
Over 20% of Space in Buildings Rated Severe
Yellow
Metric Indicates Opportunity for Efficiency
Tan
Metric Indicates Need