The campus experience -- both function and feeling – is a leading factor in recruitment and retention of faculty and students, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) capital projects deliver on those goals like few other campus investments can. Through a series of case studies, session leaders illustrate the use of STEM buildings to elevate campus competitiveness at leading institutions. They distill success factors and design strategies for pedestrian and visual connections, creating belonging for diverse student populations, and adding the “wow” factor for campus tours. They chart trending features for STEM buildings that create identity, build community, and enable next-gen teaching and research models.