Updates on universitywide efforts to optimize space use across Virginia Tech

From: The Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and the Division of Facilities

Space is an important, limited resource.

As part of University Operations’ commitment to be good stewards of university resources and provide appropriate infrastructure to support Virginia Tech’s strategic priorities, efforts are ongoing to optimize the use of physical space.

Central to this work has been updating the university’s space management policy along with the associated procedures and workflow to support it. A new space management function has been established within the Division of Facilities to centralize and help guide this ongoing effort.

In spring 2025, the Office of Space Management will be engaging with senior management areas and other entities across the university to educate and receive feedback on the policy revisions and new processes.

In addition to the policy work, Virginia Tech has also established three workgroups to:

• Inform a holistic update of the university’s space standards
• Review the university’s portfolio of leased spaces
• Enhance collaboration between university departments on space data by fostering cross-divisional communication, shared resources, and other critical initiatives

The university is also beginning to implement technology to help review its utilization of space. Piloted in Northern Virginia earlier this year, Virginia Tech will soon be deploying Lambent Spaces technology in select facilities over the coming months. This technology uses wireless access points located throughout a building to assess space utilization and allow data-informed decision-making about the university’s limited space resources. No personal information can be tracked or stored through this process, nor can an individual be identified.

For more information regarding any of these initiatives, please contact the Office of Space Management at vtspacemgmt@vt.edu.