Anastasia Barnes recently caught up with Michael A. Nieminen, FAIA, principal at Kliment Halsband Architects, a Perkins Eastman Studio, and the 2023-2026 council chair of Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) North Atlantic Region.
Anastasia Barnes: In your role as council chair of SCUP North Atlantic, what key initiatives or projects do you plan to prioritize to enhance integrated planning within the higher education landscape?
Michael Nieminen: Collaboration within the North Atlantic SCUP Council and Membership-at-Large will be key to maximizing our impact on the higher education landscape. Programs that will expand SCUP’s advocacy for integrated planning in higher education must include a focus on increasing our institutional membership. Key initiatives to achieve that goal include more micro-regional events and programs that help to recruit more institutional engagement even in these times of reduced economic resources for professional development roles, especially within publicly funded institutions. NYC initiated such a program of micro-regional events last year, and Boston will follow suit this year working in conjunction with the BSA. These programs will supplement our already vibrant spring conference, this year in Boston on March 24-26, in addition to our Fall One-Day events, last year at University of Vermont. Stay tuned as these existing program as well as new micro-regional events take shape.
AB: Integrated planning is a large part of a regional chair’s role, and it often involves collaboration across diverse stakeholders. How do you envision fostering effective communication and/or collaboration among higher education leaders, planners, and AEC professionals in the North Atlantic region to address common challenges and/or promote a culture of integrated planning?
MN: Attention to the relevance of our selected programs and speakers for all our events is key. Our Call for Proposal yielded an unprecedented high quantity and quantity of submissions for our NASCUP24 Boston conference with its theme around “The Power of Place. “ As the new leader of the North Atlantic Council, close collaboration with SCUP Central will be key and we are already working closely with the SCUP board as they roll out their new strategic plan embracing new concepts for council governance and connectivity between regions. SCUP North Atlantic is fully committed to leverage the considerable resources available through SCUP Central in ways that will advance maximum impact to our regional membership.
AB: As a subject matter expert, how do you plan to leverage your experience and knowledge to ensure that SCUP’s offerings align with the evolving needs of the higher ed community in the North Atlantic region? Are there specific areas you see as particularly crucial for development or improvement?
MN: As a corporate member, frequent speaker and thought leader within higher education practice, I plan to leverage my leadership experience from five years on the National AIA’s Committee on Architecture for Education, serving as the chair in 2021, as well as my continuing participation like my 2012 role as a juror for SCUP’s Design Excellence Awards.
Topics of particular relevance include accelerated movement toward zero carbon emissions, master planning, student life, workplace, faculty engagement, and declining enrollment trends. The increasing importance of community colleges as a cost effective higher education option deserves more of our attention in this post pandemic environment. Many things continue to evolve and our region must address these issues with rigor and discipline as they arise.
AB: What strategies or resources do you believe will be most effective in preparing higher education institutions in the North Atlantic region for the inevitable changes they may face? How can SCUP support them in this regard?
MN: Flexibility is key to successful responses to the ever-changing higher education landscape. My leadership will endeavor to expand SCUP’s collaboration with other organizations focused on higher education and promote more joint and cooperative programs to broaden both our focus and impact with broader perspective from as many diverse voices as possible. Increasing participation from organizations like NOMA, for instance, should enhance our awareness of the importance of DEI.
AB: In your role on the SCUP Council, how do you plan to engage with and mobilize the community in the North Atlantic region, including committees, academies, task forces, etc.?
MN: We must create a more inclusive regional membership that welcomes contributions from as broad a constituency as possible. The council alone is not enough. We are already reaching out to broaden involvement by interested members to join conference planning committees and to lead the effort to expand micro-regional events and programs.
AB: Can you provide examples of how collaboration across these groups can lead to innovative solutions for the challenges facing higher education planning today?
MN: Both our Development and Membership subcommittees are expanding to include new council members and other members whenever possible. Our “After Hour” events in NYC and now Boston aim to focus our growth on the recruitment of institutional membership.
If we are to thrive, we must continue to support the institutions we are meant to serve. Corporate members are increasingly encouraged to share knowledge that addresses the needs of colleges and universities beyond the needs of the design community.