Exchange is Make’s thought leadership series exploring the challenges and trends the property industry faces.

Our third edition of Exchange, a series that examines the issues spanning the built environment industry, focuses on the design of higher education buildings, places and spaces.

It’s important to note that in the previous editions – on workplace (2018) and retail (2019) – and indeed when we began this one, no one had heard of COVID-19. Since then, this pandemic has had a major impact on every sector and individual. It will influence decisions across the built environment for many years to come. As such, most of the articles here are viewed through that prism.

Universities are commercial entities, and regardless of their size, heritage or pedigree, the pipeline of work for estates directors is unrecognisable from what is was mere months ago. Adaptability and resilience are being put to the test. In many cases, COVID-19 has reinforced trends already coming to bear, such as the need for flexible, high-tech spaces and the switch from subject-specific buildings to hubs that cater for a range of subjects, teaching styles and study preferences.

Bringing together our contributors – thought leaders whose wisdom and ideas are needed more than ever – has been a real delight. We hope you enjoy their articles as they come over the next few weeks.

Ken Shuttleworth
Founding Director, Make Architects