New Director of Space Planning and Management Kevin Griffin
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Planning, Design and Construction Chris Ewing announced this week that Kevin Griffin has been hired as director of space planning and management.
In the newly created position, Griffin will play an integral role in guiding the University of Colorado Boulder’s Space Utilization and Optimization Initiative. Griffin, who begins at CU Boulder on May 1, served in a similar capacity at both Columbia University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
CU Boulder’s Space Utilization and Optimization Initiative is an ongoing effort to improve how the university manages space on campus to best support our students and the university’s mission of education and research.
Reporting directly to Ewing, Griffin will be charged with establishing and evaluating appropriate campus space standards and policies, analyzing and assessing program requirements, and developing alternative solutions for space allocation, assignment and relocation in ways that best achieve the overarching goal of the initiative.
He’ll spearhead coordination and collaboration between the Space Management Office, all other departments in Planning, Design & Construction (PD&C) and programs around campus. He’ll participate in long-range comprehensive facilities planning efforts for the campus, supporting the programming, development and scheduling of major capital projects. Finally, he’ll lead the implementation of Archibus, a space-management technology tool and database for tracking and managing the various types of space across campus.
"Kevin’s accomplishments and innovative approach make him the ideal fit for leading our space management efforts at CU Boulder to help facilitate student success now and into the future,"ÌýEwing said.
Griffin, who holds a master’s degree in construction administration from Columbia University, spent the past five years as the campus space planner at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he established a formal organizational structure around space planning, drafted space management policy and created space allocation procedures. Prior to that, he served as space planner and then senior space planner at Columbia.
"I am inspired by the focus and attention that has been placed upon improving space management at CU Boulder, and I am enthusiastic about the possibilities that lie ahead,"ÌýGriffin said.
ÌýTimeline of the Space Utilization and Optimization InitiativeÌý
2014:ÌýProvost Russell Moore and Senior Vice Chancellor and CFO Kelly Fox announce the Space Utilization and Optimization Initiative.
2015:ÌýHuron Consulting is contracted to analyze the use of all campus space and to offer recommendations for optimizing its use.
2015–16:ÌýBased on findings from the Huron Report and various campus constituents, the space utilization steering committee begins focusing on immediate needs, primarily expanding access to study space for students (e.g., Center for Community, VillageÌýCenter Dining and Community Commons) and identifying administrative units on Main Campus that could move to East Campus.
2015–16:ÌýHuman-centered design initiative gathers stakeholders from around campus to define the space-utilization problem, brainstorm solutions and present them to campus leaders for modification.
Fall 2016:ÌýCU Boulder procures Archibus, a space-management technology tool and database for tracking and managing the various types of space across campus.
Winter 2017:ÌýArchibus implementation project begins.
May 1, 2017:ÌýKevin Griffin to begin role as CU Boulder director of space management and planning.
Summer 2017: Archibus initial testing and trainingÌýand deployment to select departments to begin.
Fall 2017 to 2018: Phased campus-wide Archibus implementation on production platform.
