Research expansion without identified users: Facility planning best practices

Planning research facility capital projects with long lead times often demands some informed forecasting for lab, space, and infrastructure needs of yet-to-be-identified end-users. Session leaders profile multiple case studies where significant research buildings were undertaken and planned with an overarching growth in research goal -- but no users identified. They take a deep dive into Case Western Reserve University’s research growth and capital project future-proofing strategy, compare results, and identify where goals were met, exceeded, or adjusted. They identify critical milestones and governance/cultural components that dramatically impact project outcomes, and best practices for mitigating any discrepancy between forecasts and future research requirements including “loose fit” solutions and flexibility/adaptability strategies.