Owners of projects in the education sector this year are faced with conflicting market conditions. On the one hand, the market promises robust new rounds of construction due to record-breaking student populations, but on the other hand, the market threatens to delay or kill projects and programs that seemed economically feasible just a few months ago due to the meltdown in the financial sector and declining revenue for states, municipalities and universities.
Owners face a growing need for new K-12 and higher education facilities in nearly every community in the nation. School districts, colleges and universities need new construction to keep up with evolving technology and changing student demographics. To attract students and maintain profit margins in what is a highly competitive buyers’ market, owners are asking architects for innovation, contractors for speed and both for sustainable construction approaches.