The University of Maine, Orono Campus contracted with Rickes Associates (RA) to conduct an instructional space utilization study and space inventory update of their estimated two million asf (excluding residential space).

RA updated the space inventory which addressed the following: expanding the database framework, including the appropriate NCES code; field-verifying space assignments, including verification of the current CAD plans; and finalizing the space database update. Next, RA conducted a detailed instructional space utilization analysis, which involved determining square footage per student station, percent hours used, seat occupancy, and comparing course enrollment to room capacity. RA reconciled a list of classrooms and specialized instructional spaces identified as scheduled or schedulable by the Registrar and those spaces coded as instructional in the space inventory database.

As a consequence of this analysis, classroom projections were made by capacity required. These projections were then compared to the existing distribution of instructional spaces, and associated opportunities and constraints were identified.