IN
2011 Northern Michigan University (NMU) embarked on a building renovation
project that, through collaboration among the administration, academia, and sup-
port departments, saved over $2.4 million in construction costs, provided annual operational
cost avoidance of over $40,000, and fostered a paradigm shift in course scheduling for the
entire campus, changing how instruction is delivered on our campus. This article outlines the
evolution of space planning at NMU and how it exponentially improved building efficiency
because of the team charged with delivering a new building.
FACILITIES MANAGER MAY/JUNE 2017 37
SPACE
PLANNING
By Kathy Richards, P.E., CEFP, and Jim Thams, CEFP
as a Catalyst for Developing a
Culture of Change
