Strategic Space Management

Strategy and space management is part of Facility Management (FM), focusing on how physical spaces support the core activities of the user organization and how space and place can serve as a strategic tool for organizational development.

The course is based on the organization’s needs, values, work practices, goals, and strategies. It addresses sustainability in terms of utilization and use of spatial resources and presents examples of alternative solutions that may involve radical changes—both in buildings and in usage. This is an interdisciplinary course, integrating architecture and planning, digitalization and technology, and organization and leadership to study management, development, and change of space.

The course explores methods that promote dialogue between those responsible for organizational planning and development, property developers, and facility managers. Methods for user involvement and briefing will be reviewed as a basis for understanding how to translate between end-user needs, organizational goals, and functional building requirements. Emphasis is placed on an overall understanding of the interplay between an organization, its users, available technology and services, and the physical environment in relation to overarching organizational objectives.

Students will engage with an international field of study, including both the curriculum and an excursion to examine practices and examples in another country. The course also aims to train students in academic work methods, including reading theory, conducting empirical studies, reflection/discussion, and written reporting

Knowledge - the candidate can:

• Explain how space and space planning can be used as a strategic tool in organizational development
• Explain theories, methods, and tools for briefing and user involvement
• Explain theories, methods, and tools for evaluating user quality
• Explain the relationships between architectural quality and surroundings, and user quality and well-being
• Explain adaptability and flexibility in space and view these in a life-cycle perspective
• Explain how societal changes such as climate and digitalization are part of strategic discussions on space and property

Skills - the candidate can:

• Develop and describe objectives related to space use
• Formulate needs and objectives as input for briefing for new construction or renovation
• Develop proposals for improving space use or space management and make basic assessments of sustainability and circular economy in choosing new construction or rehabilitation
• Identify changing needs during a building’s life cycle and assess its adaptability for renovation and repurposing
• Use relevant terminology and communicate project results clearly and systematically, both in writing and orally, and discuss practice in light of these concepts

General Competence - the candidate:

• Has a solid understanding of how space can be used as a strategic tool for an organization and how architectural quality affects both the organization and individuals
• Understands the connection between briefing and evaluation and how to use experiences from buildings in use in briefing for buildings
• Has an interdisciplinary understanding of how changes in society, organization, and digital technology influence the development of spaces, properties, and places, and what this means for sustainability and resource use

The course includes two mandatory three-day sessions with lectures, group work, and discussions. Experience sharing among participants is emphasized.

An excursion is planned as part of the course. It is voluntary and takes place during the second session, either in Norway or in a European country. The course coordinator will inform students before the semester starts whether the excursion will be held. Students participating in the excursion must expect to pay up to NOK 6,000. Students who do not participate will be offered an alternative learning activity.

Mandatory Activities:

• Group excursion report (must be approved before submitting the project assignment)
• One mandatory exercise