Capital and Facility Planning
The Capital & Facility Planning team within Stanford Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE) plays a vital role in ensuring that the university’s housing, dining, and hospitality facilities support Stanford’s mission of excellence. Through strategic planning, project development, and infrastructure management, we enhance the student experience and sustain the university’s long-term operational goals.
Planners in Action: Driving Strategy & Execution
Our team of expert planners collaborates with university leadership, stakeholders, and external partners to:
- Develop Strategic Plans – Aligning capital facility projects with Stanford’s long-term residential, dining, and hospitality priorities.
- Optimize Space & Resources – Ensuring efficient and sustainable use of facilities to support evolving student needs.
- Manage Capital Projects – Overseeing the planning, and execution of major construction, renovation, and asset renewal projects.
- Advance Sustainability & Compliance – Integrating environmental responsibility and adherence to Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE) policies and regulations.
- Streamline Approvals & Funding – Navigating the complexities of capital funding, governance, and project approvals.
With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility, we strive to enhance the built environment in a way that supports Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE) residential mission. Our team develops project scopes, manages approvals, explores implementation strategies, and aligns funding resources to ensure projects are executed efficiently and effectively.
By combining strategic vision with practical execution, we create state-of-the-art living, dining, and hospitality spaces that enhance campus life for students, faculty, and the broader Stanford community.
Image above: Escondido Village Graduate Residences (EVGR)
A Visionary Approach to Long-Term Development
Our Capital & Facility Planning team develops R&DE's one-, three-, and ten-year capital facility plans, ensuring a strategic approach to campus facility planning while balancing student needs, bed capacity, safety priorities, and funding availability. These efforts focus on three key areas:
- Strategic Budgeting & Planning – Aligning capital projects with multiple funding sources over time to optimize resources and minimize disruptions to students.
- Diverse Project Scope – Managing a range of initiatives, from critical system renewals and major renovations to special projects that enhance student life and campus functionality.
- Innovation & Adaptation – Supporting unique initiatives like teaching kitchens and makerspaces, fostering hands-on learning and creative exploration.
By proactively planning and prioritizing projects, we ensure that R&DE's facilities continue to evolve to meet the needs of students and staff.
Image: Escondido Village Graduate Residences (EVGR) Aerial
Thoughtful Stewardship for Long-Term Excellence
Effective facility planning ensures that R&DE buildings are well-designed, well-maintained, and strategically serviced throughout their lifecycle. Our planners take a proactive approach, scheduling renovations and system upgrades at the most appropriate times, ideally at the end of their lifecycle, to minimize costs and operational disruptions.
This effort is data-driven, supported by our Asset Renewal Model, which tracks building lifecycle data, renovation costs, and capital investment needs. Additionally, the team oversees critical safety testing and inspections of essential building systems, including:
- Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
- Exit signs & emergency lighting
- Power inverters & backup systems
Image: Meir Hall
Ensuring the Longevity of R&DE Facilities
Asset Renewal projects focus on replacing building systems at the end of their lifecycle, ensuring that Stanford’s residential and dining facilities remain safe, efficient, and resilient. By proactively maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, we:
- Extend the life of critical building systems
- Reduce deferred maintenance backlogs
- Minimize unexpected failures and associated costs
Our planning extends 50 years into the future, using insights from facility assessments, historical data, and firsthand expertise to guide investments and maintain excellence in facility stewardship.
Transforming Spaces for Future Generations
Major renovations involve comprehensive building-wide upgrades, modernizing R&DE facilities to enhance functionality, sustainability, and the student experience. These projects typically require buildings to be taken offline for full-scale renovations and are planned years in advance to ensure smooth execution.
Through careful planning and innovative design, major renovations allow us to:
- Reimagine spaces to meet evolving student needs
- Upgrade building infrastructure to improve efficiency and sustainability
- Ensure compliance with modern safety and accessibility standards
Image: Florence Moore Dining