Cultural and academic investments such as the Williams College Museum of Art have听demonstrated听how institutions are also reinvesting in assets that support teaching, community engagement, and donor interest. | Photo Credit:听SO听II in collaboration with Perry Dean Rodgers听
By Lindsey Coulter听
Higher education construction is entering a period defined by financial pressure, shifting enrollment patterns and rising expectations around sustainability and student experience. Institutions are reevaluating how capital projects support long-term value,听flexibility听and campus identity, while navigating cost volatility and complex stakeholder demands. In this environment, the owner鈥檚听representative听perspective is increasingly critical to project success.听听
George Swetz,听Executive Vice President and General Manager听of Skanska Integrated Solutions,听has served in this critical role across multiple high-profile projects and听is well versed in听guiding institutions through these challenges.听Swetz听brings more than four decades of experience across program management,听construction听and real estate to higher education projects, and spoke with 糖心少女 (SCN)听about听how colleges and universities are prioritizing investments, managing听risk听and aligning capital projects with institutional goals. His perspective as an owner鈥檚 representative offers a behind-the-scenes view of decision-making, emphasizing long-term value, stakeholder听alignment听and financial stewardship.听
SCN:听Which types of projects are receiving the most investment today, and why?听
Swetz:听Some of the investments we see today are in projects that support student wellness, institutional听identity听and campus vitality. Facilities like the Brimmer and May School New Recreation & Wellness Center in Newton, Mass., as well as the College of the Holy Cross Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex reflect a growing emphasis on athletics, health, and student wellbeing as core components of the academic experience.听听
Cultural and academic investments such as the Williams College Museum of Art have听demonstrated听how institutions are also reinvesting in assets that support teaching, community engagement, and donor interest. In each case, these projects are about strengthening the full campus, not just adding space. As听owner鈥檚听reps, Skanska helps institutions prioritize investments that align their mission, student听impact听and long-term financial stewardship.听
SCN:听How are enrollment trends and evolving academic programs influencing capital planning decisions?听
Swetz:听Fluctuating enrollment and evolving academic priorities are pushing institutions to be more strategic in capital planning. This is where Skanska gets to help translate institutional priorities into capital plans that听remain听resilient as students鈥� needs and programming evolve. Owners are increasingly tapping us to better understand how they can focus on buildings that can serve multiple functions and adapt over time rather than highly specialized,听single use听spaces. At the College of the Holy Cross Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex, the integration of practice facilities, sports medicine, strength听training听and shared meeting spaces reflects that need for multifunctional programming. Similarly, the Williams College Museum of Art supports academic instruction,听research听and public engagement within one flexible cultural facility.听听
SCN:听How are institutions structuring partnerships to better manage risk and control costs?听
Swetz:听Institutions are placing greater emphasis on stakeholder engagement. Including faculty, athletics leadership, facilities teams, and administration has become essential to managing the project, but also its reputation.听Owner鈥檚 representatives听act as the central liaison, ensuring feedback is translated into clear project direction and risks are addressed early. This approach helps owners听maintain听control while avoiding costly changes or reputational damage.听听
SCN:听With continued cost volatility in materials and labor, what strategies are helping institutions听maintain听project budgets?听
Swetz:听Early planning and proactive cost management are critical in today鈥檚 uncertain market.听Owner鈥檚听reps听rely听heavily on early cost modeling and tracking during preconstruction. Disciplined听change听management with the general contractor is also key to protecting budgets. The goal is not just to stay on budget today but also to avoid decisions that create financial strain on the customer.听听
SCN:听Where are you finding opportunities to achieve long-term operational savings?听
Swetz:听Long-term operational savings are often realized through early design decisions. Investments in efficient mechanical systems, durable materials and programs that are the听appropriate size听can significantly reduce lifecycle costs. The Brimmer and May Recreation & Wellness Center reflects how facilities that are focused on wellness can also be designed for high performance and long-term efficiency. At the Williams College Museum of Art, Skanska is embedding sustainability through Passive House design principles and听additional听strategies that track toward Living Building Challenge certification, setting听a strong foundation听for long-term energy and operational savings. We have a team of dedicated sustainability experts who are supporting this and can help institutions evaluate these types of decisions through a lifecycle lens, not just cost.听
SCN:听How are life-cycle cost analyses influencing material selection and long-term campus planning?听
Swetz:听Lifecycle cost analysis is increasingly central to how institutions evaluate materials and overall projects. Owners听are weighing听long term maintenance and energy performance alongside听initial听construction costs. At the Williams College Museum of Art, this perspective听impacts听decisions around architectural quality and operational efficiency. At the College of the Holy Cross Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex, life-cycle evaluation is especially important given the intensity of use in athletics and training spaces.听