• Gordian鈥檚 13th annual听State of Facilities in Higher Education听report puts the deferred capital renewal backlog at听$156 per gross square foot, up听8%听over the past year.听听

• The report says capital investment funding for existing buildings is听73.5%听of听what鈥檚听needed to prevent further backlog growth, with operating budgets听18.5%听below target.听听

• Staffing pressure is also rising: the report says custodial coverage responsibilities are up听27% since 2007, with public institutions seeing steeper increases than private institutions.听听

• Gordian points to strategic reinvestment,听benchmarking听and proactive maintenance as levers to stabilize backlogs and support long-term planning.听听

GREENVILLE, S.C. 鈥�听Deferred capital renewal needs at North American colleges and universities climbed to听$156 per gross square foot, an听8%听year-over-year increase, according to Gordian鈥檚 latest听State of Facilities in Higher Education听report.听听

The听Greenville, S.C.-headquartered company听said the data underscores continued underinvestment in existing buildings and warned that, without meaningful reinvestment, deferred needs are likely to continue rising.听听

Gordian鈥檚 13th annual report frames the sector鈥檚 growing backlog as the result of persistent funding gaps colliding with institutional change. The company said capital investment funding for existing buildings is at听73.5%听of what is听required听to keep deferred needs from expanding, and that operating budgets听remain听18.5%听below target levels.听听

鈥淭his year鈥檚 findings reinforce what we hear daily from leaders across the higher education sector: without sustained and strategic reinvestment, institutions risk deeper operational challenges,鈥� said Arul Elumalai,听President of Gordian, in a statement. 鈥淥ur goal with this report is to equip campus decision-makers with the clear, data-driven insights they need to prioritize the right actions now.鈥澨�听

Gordian said the analysis draws on its database of听43,000 campus buildings听representing听1.1 billion gross square feet听of space, which it uses to benchmark facilities conditions and spending patterns across North American higher education.听听

Alongside capital constraints, the report also points to workforce strain. Gordian said the amount of space each custodian听is responsible for听has increased听27% since 2007, with larger jumps reported at public institutions compared with private ones.听听

The report鈥檚 findings also highlight how structural underinvestment and rising deferred maintenance can restrict campus flexibility and push institutions toward reactive鈥攐ften costlier鈥攆acility management, Gordian said. As a path forward, the company said campuses can use data-driven benchmarking, proactive maintenance听practices听and strategic reinvestment to help stabilize backlog growth and support long-term decision-making.听听

鈥淲hile campuses face continued pressure, there is genuine opportunity ahead,鈥� said Pete Zuraw,听Vice听President of听Market听Strategy and听Development for Gordian, in a statement. 鈥淲ith reliable data and guidance from trusted industry partners, institutional leaders can make informed decisions that strengthen their facilities and position them for long-term resilience.鈥�听

Gordian said it has published the report for more than a decade and collaborates with higher education societies including APPA, NACUBO and SCUP, adding that the report includes survey data and commentary from higher education leaders.听听

This article is based on reporting originally published by Gordian on听April 8, 2026.听

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