College space use rises but rooms remain
A new report finds campus space utilization improved in 2026, with classroom and office use hitting 47% and 45%.
Higher education institutions have increased their use of campus space, according to a 2026 report from occupancy platform Occuspace. Daily peak utilization rose by 6 to 8 basis points compared to the prior year.
Classroom and office utilization rates saw their largest year-over-year gain since the post-COVID recovery began. The report states these rates reached 47% and 45%, respectively. Occupancy increased in classrooms, offices, open workspaces, and study spaces, but declined in recreation and lab areas.
Utilization trends and targets
If current trends continue, overall utilization could reach 50% by the fall of 2026, Occuspace CEO Nic Halverson said during a webinar. He noted that current usage still falls well short of the 70% to 85% targets most institutions have set for themselves.
The report highlights a persistent efficiency gap. Small and medium conference rooms are empty 73% of the standard work week. Classrooms sit unoccupied almost one-third of the time during regular working hours.
Large institutions and office inefficiency
Occuspace's data reveals a split in efficiency between space types. Large institutions with centralized, registrar-controlled scheduling are more efficient with classroom use. Their office utilization, however, lags.
Nic Halverson attributed this office inefficiency to research faculty often holding two or three offices, which drags down overall occupancy rates at larger schools.
Potential for operational savings
These empty hours represent a major opportunity for cost savings, Occuspace argues. Optimizing existing space can reduce expenses for HVAC and custodial cleaning. The company estimates operational savings of 30 to 60 cents per square foot annually from those areas.
Further savings could come from shedding unnecessary leased space, potentially saving up to $40 per square foot per year. Avoiding new construction presents the largest financial benefit, with costs that can reach $600 per square foot.
Case studies in space reconfiguration
Work by design firm BHDP at two colleges demonstrates how strategic changes can improve space use. For Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, BHDP developed a campus master plan. It prioritized renovating the library, creating a more contemporary entrance, a central information bar, and student spaces organized around a "town square" concept.
At Bethany College in West Virginia, the firm expanded the fitness center by repurposing underused racquetball courts. This tripled student capacity and avoided the cost of building a new dedicated facility.
BHDP says such creative reconfiguration helps campuses meet student needs without straining their budgets. The firm's approach focuses on building space optimization through data-informed design.
