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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“While campuses face continued pressure, there is genuine opportunity ahead,” said Pete Zuraw,��Vice��President of��Market��Strategy and��Development for Gordian, in a statement. “With 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.”��

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.����

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

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• The��San Diego Community College District’s��Saville Performing Arts Center Replacement project at San Diego City College��has moved into the schematic design phase.��
• The project will replace the existing Saville Theatre with a new performing arts facility of about��28,000 square feet��designed for academic programs and community use.����
• Scope includes demolition, hazardous materials abatement, utility��relocation��and upgrades, plus site improvements including new walkways and ADA-compliant paths of travel.��
• The work is part of the Measure HH Bond Program, approved in November 2024, totaling��$3.5 billion.��

SAN DIEGO —��The Saville Theatre Replacement Project��at��, part of the district’s Measure HH Bond Program,��has��officially moved��from the programming phase into schematic design.��The project will replace the existing Saville Theatre with a new,��approximately 28,000-square-foot��performing arts facility designed to support academic programs and community use.

The new center will be a modern, flexible venue capable of accommodating a range of performances and events, supporting both campus programming and broader community use.��The��programming��process brought together��faculty��and��staff��members, who��joined the��Design-Build team of����and����for��a series of workshops and discussions��to help shape the project vision, offering insights on��instructional needs,��room configurations, and��how��to best��support teaching,��learning��and live performance.����

Work��will include��the abatement, demolition, and removal of the existing Saville Theatre and the removal and replacement of associated site utilities and appurtenances in alignment with the campus’s Master Plan.��New construction of approximately 20,000 assignable square feet (ASF) includes a street-level lobby with Box Office, restrooms, and manager’s office. A��mew��main theatre will include 250–350 seats, including stage, orchestra��pit��and control room as well as a scene shop and costume shop. Other support spaces include rehearsal rooms, recording/editing��spaces��and dance studios.����

Planned exterior work also includes new walkways, sustainable landscaping and irrigation, signage��and ADA-compliant paths of travel��that will connect to a future outdoor��amphitheatre.��

“We are honored to continue our partnership with the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) on this important project,” said Ryan Nessen,��Senior��Vice��President��and California��District��Manager, according to��a press release from Sundt Construction.����

“This selection reflects the trust we have built over more than two decades and our commitment to delivering high-quality facilities that serve students and the broader community,” Nessen��added.��

Measure HH, approved in November 2024, is a��$3.5 billion��bond program that will provide��state-of-the-art��educational facilities, address long-deferred maintenance needs, and support accessibility and equity across the district’s colleges.��

The project team also includes structural engineering firm KPFF, civil engineer Latitude 33, and mechanical and electrical engineer MA Engineers/Johnson Consulting Engineers.��

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What You Need to Know��

• The project team marked a topping-out milestone for the Saban Center now rising in Tuscaloosa’s River District.��

• Plans call for a 118,000-square-foot complex on a 7.71-acre site along the Black Warrior River, with a 70-foot glass tower as a centerpiece.��

• Campus partners named include the State of Alabama STEM Hub, the Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre and IGNITE (formerly the Children’s Hands-On Museum).��

• Design/delivery partners cited include Steinberg Hart (with Davis Architects), Stone Building Company,��CambridgeSeven��and Theatre Projects.��

Learn More��

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Saban Center reached a key construction benchmark March 30 as crews and project partners celebrated the building’s topping out at the future STEM-and-arts��learning campus in Tuscaloosa’s River District.��

The facility, described as a first-of-its-kind campus combining science, technology, engineering and math with arts programming, is expected to open in 2027.��

The marble-clad complex is being designed by Steinberg Hart in collaboration with Birmingham-based Davis Architects, with Stone Building Company serving as general contractor. Newly released renderings depict a series of curved pavilions connected to a transparent central tower.��

“Saban Center is deeply personal to us—we’ve been involved every step of the way, working closely with the design team to shape a place where children of all ages can explore their curiosity and imagine what’s possible for their futures,” according to��.��

Renderings also show the building set into a natural slope on the 7.71-acre site, intended to reduce the perceived height at street level while creating a prominent landmark from the north. Project materials describe multiple outdoor approaches meant to position the campus as a public, inclusive destination for families and school groups.��

The exterior facade is planned to use locally sourced recycled marble from the Alabama Marble Mineral & Mining Company. Inside, the design team selected regionally sourced woods and metals as part of a sustainability approach that emphasizes local sourcing, material��reuse��and resilient construction.��

At the center of the complex, a 70-foot glass tower is expected to house an 18-foot illuminated globe described in project materials as a beacon for the evolving River District and a symbol of discovery and innovation.��

Led by Nick and Terry Saban and Nick’s Kids Foundation in partnership with the City of Tuscaloosa, the campus is being delivered through a public-private collaboration that also includes the State of Alabama, which plans to��establish��the State of Alabama STEM Hub on-site.��

Project leaders framed the building design as integral to the learning mission. “The design of the Saban Center reflects a shared belief that architecture can actively support learning and discovery,” according to��.��

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox also positioned the campus as a workforce-development asset, saying Saban Center “will be a catalyst for building Alabama’s future-ready workforce.”

This article is based on reporting originally published by Saban Center on March 30, 2026.��

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What You Need to Know��

• Lincoln Memorial University��hosted a��grand opening for its��Orange Park, Fla.,��health sciences campus,��on��March 23.����

• The��12-acre��site spans��about��130,000 square feet��across two buildings and will house osteopathic medicine and veterinary medicine programs.����

• LMU says the Orange Park location positions LMU-DCOM as the��first four-year medical school in the greater Jacksonville area.����

• The campus is slated to open in��fall 2026��in a newly renovated��85,000-square-foot��facility for a class of��100.����

Learn More��

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) has expanded its health sciences footprint in Northeast Florida with an Orange Park campus that will house osteopathic medicine and veterinary medicine programs. The campus — which spans approximately 130,000 square feet across two buildings on 12 acres — is designed for interprofessional, clinically focused training, with inaugural cohorts expected to begin this fall. The university hosted a formal grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 23.��

In��an��announcement, LMU President Dr. Jason McConnell framed the expansion as a milestone for health education in the state. “The Orange Park campus represents a significant step forward,” according to��.����

The campus is home to the LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) and the LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park (LMU-OPCVM) and��is intended to strengthen the regional health care workforce.��LMU also positions the Orange Park site as a regional medical education milestone. The location establishes LMU-DCOM as “the first four-year medical school in the greater Jacksonville area,” and that the program will mirror LMU-DCOM curricula offered in Harrogate and Knoxville, Tenn.����

LMU states that DCOM at LMU-Orange Park will offer the same four-year, full-time academic and clinical program as the Harrogate and Knoxville campuses,��and that the new campus is expected to��serve��a��class of 100.��The facility is designed to support innovative, clinically focused education and to strengthen the regional health care workforce.��

In a statement, the institution also highlighted the��“One Health”��approach��that brings human and veterinary medicine together on one campus. “Bringing human and veterinary medicine��together… reinforces the importance of a One Health perspective,” according to��.����

For LMU-DCOM, Dr. James Toldi,��Campus��Dean for the Orange Park site, said the new campus is intended to support clinical training capacity. “We are creating meaningful clinical training opportunities,” he said in a statement.��

On the veterinary side,��the��LMU-OPCVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program is structured as a three-year program emphasizing early clinical experience and a distributive clinical model.��The institution��also cited��planned partnerships, including with the Jacksonville Humane Society and Clay County Animal Services, to place students in community-based learning environments.����

“Bringing human and veterinary medicine together on one campus reinforces the importance of a One Health perspective��in��how we educate and serve,” McConnell said. “Orange Park allows us to extend that commitment into Florida in a meaningful and lasting way.”����

This article is based on information published by Lincoln Memorial University via PR Newswire on March 4, 2026, and on LMU’s DCOM at Orange Park program page.��

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TRENTON, N.J.��—��New Jersey Gov.��Mikie Sherrill delivered her inaugural budget address��earlier this month, outlining her��administration’s plan to��protect children’s futures��through a��$12.4 billion��investment in K-12 schools for FY 2027.

“My budget is focused on ensuring kids in New Jersey have access to the best education and brightest possible future,” said Sherrill. “The budget includes a record level of K-12 school funding, while acknowledging that much more work is needed to make sure students and taxpayers get the best return on our investment. It lays the foundation for future improvements – like stronger academic and mental health outcomes, shared services, and more efficient spending – to better support children from birth through graduation and strengthen schools statewide.”

The $60.7 billion budget includes a proposed surplus of $5.4 billion, while redirecting over 74 percent of the total budget back into New Jersey communities in the form of grants-in-aid for property tax relief, social services, and higher education, as well as state aid to schools, municipalities, and counties.

Among plans to increase affordability and increase government accountability, the budget prioritizes investing in education. Sherrill proposes a record breaking $12.4 billion for K-12 schools in FY 2027, the largest amount in state history and a $370 million increase over last year’s funding. The budget also includes a record $1.4 billion for Preschool Education Aid. Sherrill added that she looks forward to working with the Legislature to modernize and stabilize the school funding formula.������

In preparation for New Jersey’s first cell phone-free school year this fall, the proposal includes $125,000 for the new Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness in the Department of Health. The office will research and make recommendations to guide responsible use of social media platforms among youth. The budget also includes $500,000 for a new Social Media Research Center at one of New Jersey’s higher education institutions.����

An allocation of $15 million for high-impact tutoring — double the amount of FY 2026 m— would help nearly 100 more districts and 13,500 more students, with the goal to accelerate learning and address academic achievement gaps spurred by the pandemic. The budget would also provide 21,000 schoolchildren with free meals through the Working-Class Families Anti-Hunger Act.��

The announcement reflects a continuation of policy choices aligned with Sherrill’s goals to modernize and stabilize the School Funding Reform Act, which provide the blueprint for New Jersey’s state aid formula. The budget limits reductions in state aid to no more than 3 percent, which will prevent the loss of an additional $188.4 million for school districts. Without a limit to cuts, some districts have faced losses of up to 60 percent of their state aid in recent years. These limits on reductions are offset by a 6 percent limit on state aid increases, ensuring overall stability while recognizing the need for annual adjustments.

The New Jersey Department of Education will use a three-year average when determining local fair share, which is the amount of funding a local school district is expected to contribute toward its own budget based on its property wealth and income. Using a multi-year average minimizes year-to-year fluctuations.

To ensure state aid reflects the real needs of districts, the NJDOE will use actual special education enrollment numbers to determine funding levels, instead of the approach used in years past of relying on a statewide average for all districts. State aid allocations are available on .

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Construction has reached a key milestone on the Northland Workforce Development Center, as JE Dunn Construction and project partners recently celebrated the topping out of the new facility. The event marked the placement of the final structural steel beam for the project, signaling��significant progress��on the 145,000-square-foot, two-story building designed to expand access to career and technical education across the Northland region.��

Prior to the��beam’s��installation, attendees��participated��in a traditional beam-signing ceremony, adding their names and messages to a steel beam bearing project and partner logos. The moment underscored the collaboration among the Platte County R-3 School District, partner school districts, project��stakeholders��and the broader community in advancing a shared workforce development vision.��

“This project is about creating opportunities and pathways for the next generation of skilled professionals in our region,” said Brad Hokanson, Project Executive at JE Dunn Construction. “Reaching the topping out milestone is a testament to the collaboration between the district, design team, and trade partners who are bringing this innovative learning environment to life.”��

The Northland Workforce Development Center is designed to support programs in skilled trades, manufacturing, health��sciences��and human services. Once complete, the facility will expand the capacity of Northland Career Center and its partners, serving both high school students and adult learners seeking industry-aligned training and credentials.��

Planned program spaces include flexible labs and classrooms, hands-on training��environments��and technology-rich areas that reflect real-world workplace conditions. Located in the Northland region of Kansas City, the project is progressing on schedule, with substantial completion targeted in 2027 and a summer opening��anticipated��following the structural milestone.��

“With support from the State of Missouri, local municipalities, businesses and industries, individual investors, and community foundations, we are making a long-term investment in the success of our students and the future of our region,” said Brian Noller, Executive Director of Business Services and NWDC Campaign Lead at Platte County School District. “The Northland Workforce Development Center will open doors to high-demand career opportunities, strengthen employers across the Kansas City area, and help ensure our community remains competitive for years to come.”��

JE Dunn is serving as construction manager for the project, working in partnership with the school district and design firm Clark & Enersen. The project team has emphasized safety, schedule��adherence��and coordination throughout construction, while��maintaining��communication with stakeholders and minimizing disruption to nearby facilities.��

The Northland Workforce Development Center��represents��a regional investment in workforce readiness, aligning educational infrastructure with evolving industry needs and supporting long-term economic development in the Kansas City area.��

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What You Need to Know��

• California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released a final study assessing potential health risks from��recycled-tire��“crumb rubber” used as synthetic turf infill.����

• OEHHA reported no evidence of a��significant��risk of cancer or other health problems for athletes, coaches, referees, or spectators — including young athletes and toddlers.����

• The nine-year effort evaluated��35 fields��across California, analyzed��100+ chemicals, and included air sampling plus exposure research involving��1,000+ soccer players.����

• OEHHA said the findings may help inform California sustainability and waste-tire management goals as synthetic turf use expands statewide.����

Learn More��

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —��California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has concluded that crumb rubber infill made from recycled tires is not likely to pose a significant health risk to people who use or watch games on synthetic turf fields.����

In a March 5 press release, OEHHA said its final report found “no evidence of significant risk for cancer or other health problems” tied to crumb rubber exposure for players, coaches,��referees��and spectators, including young athletes.����

The assessment focused on crumb rubber, the small granules produced by grinding recycled waste tires and commonly used as��infill��between synthetic grass blades. OEHHA said the material helps keep turf fibers upright, adds cushioning and improves traction.����

“This study should ease concerns about the safety of crumb rubber use in synthetic turf fields,” said OEHHA Director Kris Thayer, “Athletes of all ages can use these fields without parents worrying about this commonly used material,” according to��.����

OEHHA said synthetic turf is widely used because it requires less maintenance, uses less��water��and can support play without rest periods. The agency cited more than 900 synthetic turf installations in California.����

The report was also framed as part of California’s broader waste-tire and sustainability efforts.

“Protecting public health is our top priority, and California is committed to making sure waste tires are managed safely so they don’t litter communities or pose risks to residents,”��CalRecycle��Director Zoe Heller said, according to��.����

To evaluate potential health impacts, OEHHA tested 35 synthetic turf fields across the state, selecting both older and newer sites and including locations from each of California’s climate regions. The agency collected multiple samples from each field to address variation in source materials��and also��took air samples during active field use and when fields were idle.����

OEHHA said it assessed more than 100 chemicals that could pose a risk, a broader scope than prior studies that reviewed fewer compounds. The agency coordinated with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to simulate sweat and digestion as part of��identifying��chemicals people could potentially contact.����

OEHHA also worked with researchers from UC Berkeley and the University of Arizona to examine how soccer players may be exposed — including through skin contact,��inhalation��and incidental ingestion. The team surveyed more than 1,000 soccer players ages 7 to 71 about play habits such as sliding and diving, and recorded games and practices to quantify field contact. Because goalkeepers tend to have the most contact with the surface, OEHHA said goalie data were used to estimate risk for players. The analysis also considered toddlers who might crawl on turf.����

In its risk characterization, OEHHA reported no acute risk for athletes, referees,��coaches��or spectators, including toddlers. In most cases, the agency said risks of sensory irritation, cancer, reproductive��harm��or effects on a developing fetus were “negligible.”����

This article is based on reporting originally published by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) on March 5, 2026.��

��

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What You Need to Know��

• Elwyn held a groundbreaking Feb. 6 for a new school on its Media, Pa., campus as part of its master campus plan.��

• The facility is expected to be completed in August 2027, with plans to welcome students in fall 2027.��

• Elwyn said the school will support two curriculum tracks, including programming for students with complex behavioral needs and for students working toward greater independence.��

• Elwyn has��allocated��$45 million for construction and design, with financing provided by KeyBank.��

Learn More��

MEDIA, Pa. —��Elwyn, a nonprofit human services organization, has launched construction on a new school intended to reshape the organization’s educational and therapeutic space for children with disabilities.��

The organization marked the start of work Feb. 6 with a ceremonial groundbreaking attended by elected officials, community partners,��staff��and students.��

The project��marks a milestone in��Elwyn’s��master campus plan, with the organization approaching its 175th anniversary next year.��

“As we look ahead to our 175th anniversary, it’s thrilling to break ground on the New Elwyn School,” said Charles S. McLister, Elwyn president and CEO, according to��. “This project will set an example of what the future of education can look like for children and adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities.”��

, a full-service architecture, planning, and interior design firm, is pleased to announce the groundbreaking of the new��, a $45 million, 80,000-square-foot PreK–12 facility��located��at the heart of Elwyn’s 260-acre historic campus in Media, Pennsylvania. The new school is the first phase of Elwyn’s $100 million redevelopment plans for the campus.��

Designed in collaboration with Elwyn and an integrated design-build team, the new school will serve 260 students across two curriculum tracks: those with complex needs requiring intensive clinical support with onsite residential care and those building toward greater independence.����

“This project is about more than designing a school building; it’s about reimagining what a learning environment can do for students who have traditionally been underserved by conventional design,” said��Mayva��Donnon, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Partner at KSS Architects. “Every design decision is rooted in how��the space��will support students’ growth and independence. KSS is honored to partner with Elwyn by designing a campus that will champion inclusion and innovation for future generations.”����

The building is organized into learning neighborhoods that scale the environment to the individual student experience, offering calming, supportive spaces with direct views of nature using materials drawn from the character of Elwyn’s historic rural campus. A universal design framework rooted in neurodiversity informs every aspect of the plan, from intuitive wayfinding and biophilic design features to restorative spaces and integrated assistive technology. This approach fosters independence, wellness, and a genuine connection to place.��

Sensory rooms, decompression areas, and life skills kitchens complement classrooms and therapy spaces. Specialty program spaces, including music, art, a career discovery lab, and a gymnasium, support holistic student development. The result is a school that is both clinically informed and design-forward: a place where every detail, from the layout of a classroom to the materials on the walls, is grounded in how the space will help students feel, function, and thrive.��

Elwyn has��allocated��$45 million for the new school’s construction and design, with KeyBank providing financing. Elwyn also��identified��Haverford Development Partners as development and construction partner, with Haverford and North Star Construction slated to build the school.��The building is��anticipated��to be completed in August 2027, with plans to welcome students in fall 2027.��

This article is based on reporting originally published by Elwyn on Feb. 6, 2026.��

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What You Need to Know��

• Miami University’s Board of Trustees approved a resolution authorizing��the construction��of a new multipurpose arena at Cook Field.����

• The university estimates arena construction at about��$242 million, with up to��$281 million��authorized for the arena and related ancillary costs.

• The arena is expected to be ready for the start of the athletic season in��fall 2028, addressing space and building-system challenges at the existing Millett Hall.

• Miami University also outlined intramural and recreation upgrades at the Millett Hall site and at Chestnut Fields, with construction expected to run May–September 2026.

Learn More��

OXFORD,��Ohio��—��Miami University’s Board of Trustees has approved plans to build a new multipurpose arena at Cook Field, a project the university says will expand event capacity, modernize athletic��operations��and support a broader campus events district.��

University officials estimated arena construction at approximately $242 million, with trustees authorizing up to $281 million for the arena and related ancillary costs. ��

In a statement, the university said the venue is expected to be ready for the start of the athletic season in fall 2028 and is intended to address space limitations and building-system operations and maintenance challenges at Millett Hall, the current arena.��Millett Hall opened in 1968 and initially housed men’s basketball, with volleyball and women’s basketball added in 1974. Miami said renovating Millett Hall to add practice courts and a dedicated volleyball court would��require��at least $175 million and would take the facility offline for multiple years.����

Miami University leaders also framed the new facility as a campuswide event venue, saying it would support concurrent student activities and other major events such as commencements, concerts, creative arts performances and career fairs. ��

“We are in a unique and dynamic time for Miami University Athletics. It is time to innovate, invest, and inspire. A new arena benefits all of Miami and will serve as a gateway and beacon for the university,” according to an article from Miami University.����

President Gregory Crawford tied the project to student experience and local economic goals. “This is a student-centered project that will create a vibrant new space intended to bring people together and support and engage our students. A new arena will provide the foundation for an events district in the heart of campus to benefit students, reinvigorate the community, and strengthen our local economy,” he said in an article published by the University.��

Beyond the arena, Miami said the project will also advance recreation upgrades elsewhere on campus. Planned work includes intramural soccer and flag football fields at the Millett Hall site, along with a walking path and exercise stations. At Chestnut Fields, the university described a multipurpose complex supporting full-size soccer fields, softball fields, flag football fields, a rugby field, a lacrosse field and intramural soccer fields. ��

Construction of new recreation facilities at Millett and Chestnut Fields is expected to begin in May 2026 and be completed in September 2026, allowing Cook Field to go offline in September 2026 to begin arena construction, according to the university.����

This article is based on reporting originally published by��Miami University��on��Feb. 27, 2026.��

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What You Need to Know��

• Maine’s Governor’s Commission on ���سԹ� is urging changes to how projects are planned, prioritized and funded, citing rising costs and a growing backlog.��

• The commission estimates the state may need��roughly��$11 billion��over 20 years��to repair or replace aging school buildings; Maine has��nearly��600��public schools��with an average building age of��54 years.����

• Recommendations include addressing deferred maintenance earlier, using prototype designs, building a statewide facilities master plan and reducing red tape that can extend project timelines.����

• The report also recommends creating a quasi-independent��Intergovernmental Office of School Infrastructure��and calls for a short-term working group to draft legislation and��implementation��details.����

Learn More��

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s Governor’s Commission on ���سԹ� is calling for a broad overhaul of the state’s school construction pipeline, arguing that the current approach cannot keep pace with aging buildings, rising costs and long waitlists for state support.����

The commission’s final report lays out a long-term roadmap for planning,��funding��and delivering capital projects statewide — while local districts such as RSU 23 in Old Orchard Beach point to immediate building-system and accessibility issues as they wait for upgrades.����

According to reporting by WGME/CBS13’s I-Team and a follow-up summary by Construction Owners Club, the commission estimates Maine could need��roughly��$11 billion��over the next 20 years to repair or replace hundreds of aging school buildings. The sources note Maine has��nearly 600��public schools and an average building age of 54 years.����

The impact is visible in districts already queued for state��assistance. RSU 23 is seeking to replace Loranger Memorial School, described as a 90-year-old facility whose infrastructure and learning spaces no longer meet modern expectations. The district is currently at the front of the line for state funding, but Loranger’s placement on the priority list underscores how demand is outpacing available bond capacity.����

Commission Chair Valerie Landry said the scale of need requires a shift in strategy, with the report organizing its recommendations around four goals: reducing construction costs, maximizing existing resources, diversifying and increasing funding, and using data more strategically.����

The commission recommends addressing deferred maintenance earlier to avoid costlier replacements later, encouraging school consolidation where it makes sense, developing prototype or model school designs to reduce upfront design costs, and creating a statewide facilities master plan to guide long-term investment.����

Process reform is also a central theme. The report calls for reducing the layers of requirements districts must navigate after a project is approved—such as permitting, engineering studies, design��requirements��and acquisitions—because those steps can stretch schedules for years and delay when students and staff see a new or renovated building.����

Even if the state streamlines the process, the commission cautions that financing��remains��the key constraint. The report discusses options such as raising the bond cap, capturing unused debt-service capacity for maintenance projects, exploring dedicated revenue��streams��and examining public-private partnership models used in other states.����

One of the commission’s most significant recommendations is creating a small, quasi-independent Intergovernmental Office of School Infrastructure to coordinate planning, data��analysis��and funding strategies across state and local government. The commission notes��establishing��the office would require legislative approval and��urges��state leaders to form a short-term working group to draft legislation and��implementation��details.����

This article is based on reporting originally published by WGME/CBS13 I-Team on Feb. 26, 2026, and a related summary published by Construction Owners Club on March 2, 2026.��

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