News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
Today’s students want more than a great academic experience—they want a campus that feels alive. Across the country, colleges and universities are rethinking their amenities and how those spaces can better support the people who use them every day. For this edition of Ask the Expert, we sat down with B&D Senior Associate Peyton Brailsford to talk about what’s trending, what’s changing, and how institutions can stay ahead of the curve.
B&D: Tell us about yourself.
Peyton Brailsford: I actually got my start at B&D as a high school intern. I worked summers under IT, marketing, and project staff while learning the ropes behind the scenes. After graduating from the University of Miami in 2017, I came on full-time as a project analyst, mostly supporting higher education clients. Since then, I’ve had the chance to work across higher ed, private schools, K-12, and government projects, especially in recreation, athletics, and housing. It’s been a fun ride seeing how these environments shape student life.
B&D: From your vantage point, what significant trends have shaped campus amenities, and what’s driving those changes?
PB: There was a time when campuses were in a full-on amenities arms race to have the biggest and best. Today, that mindset has shifted. Institutions are paying closer attention to what students actually need and use. Health and wellness are driving a lot of decisions. Technology expectations have evolved, too: Wi-Fi matters a lot more than cable hookups; old racquetball courts are getting turned into functional fitness areas; and computer labs are shrinking in favor of flexible collaboration hubs. Even cultural shifts are changing how bathrooms and locker rooms are programmed and designed. Campuses are modernizing with intention.
B&D: How do you help universities balance aspirational amenities with financial and space realities?
PB: One of our core tools is B&D’s Strategic Asset Value analysis. It helps campuses define decision-making criteria that tie directly to their strategic outcomes. We look at every lever— community outcomes, economic development, sustainability and societal responsibility metrics, implementation and delivery methods, long-term operating costs, and financing strategies (including P3s). It’s a truly holistic lens. We’re helping our clients articulate not just their mission and purpose, but advising them towards their targeted new reality.
B&D: If you had a crystal ball, which emerging trends or unmet needs will shape the future of campus amenities?
PB: We’re five years out from the start of the pandemic, and the industry is still finding its footing. Resources are tighter, competition is higher, and institutions are being more selective about where they invest. What we’re seeing isn’t a single national trend, but an emphasis on fit—what’s right for this campus and these students. The future is all about tailoring. Amenities strategies need to be customized to the communities our clients serve, not borrowed from the school next door.
Thank you again to Peyton for joining us in Ask the Expert. If there’s a topic you’d like one of our experts to explore in an upcoming edition, please submit your ideas here.
