Qualitative Facilities Assessment: Beyond the Condition Audit

In APPA's recently published book, "Strategic Capital Development: The New Model for Campus Investment," the authors make a case for substantial change in capital planning for higher education institutions. The new model posed is intended to urge institutions and systems to (1) identify more systematically all capital needs of all types; (2) integrate quantitative space needs with qualitative facility assessment to define whole-building solutions; (3) prioritize projects, based on planning principles, while minimizing the influence of politics; (4) associate the needs/projects with financing sources in a comprehensive long-range capital investment plan; and (5) ensure that perpetually scarce capital resources are applied as productively as possible. This article, drawn from the book, focuses on one very important element of capital needs assessment and planning--comprehensive qualitative assessment of existing facilities--as part of the still more comprehensive four-part needs assessment model that includes: (1) space capacity; (2) facilities quality; (3) special facilities; and (4) infrastructure, campus environment, and sustainability. (Contains 3 figures.)