Space is one of Rice University’s most valuable—and limited—resources. From offices and labs to classrooms and common areas, every square foot plays a role in supporting research, teaching, and student success.
To help ensure that space is used wisely, the Space Management team oversees how Rice’s 6.8 million square feet are allocated. Working in close coordination with the Provost’s Office, Real Estate & Facilities, and the Budget Office, the team helps align space usage with university priorities and evolving needs.
How Space Decisions Are Made
Space planning recommendations are developed collaboratively among university units, with final decisions made by the Provost to ensure that all allocations advance institutional priorities and support Rice’s academic mission. Each recommendation is informed by data-driven analysis and reviewed through an established governance process. When a department requests space—whether for growth, operational improvements, or new initiatives—the Space Management team partners with unit leaders and campus stakeholders to assess needs and available options. Considerations include the type, urgency, and purpose of the request, as well as how it aligns with the university’s broader goals.
A New Model: Budget Meets Space
In FY26, Rice introduced a new approach to space management through the Budget Transformation Initiative (BTI). Under this model, academic and administrative units receive a space budget based on the square footage they occupy.
This change encourages more strategic thinking about how space is used. Units that identify and release underutilized space can reinvest the savings into their people, programs, or research. On the other hand, departments that request additional space must account for the cost in their budgets. The goal is to incentivize efficient space use and better align resources with the university’s mission.
What This Means in Practice
The impact of these changes is evident across campus. Smarter use of space can reduce the need for expensive new construction, lower the university’s environmental footprint, and direct more funding toward high-impact areas, such as student success, academic excellence, and research growth.
Departments now play a more active role in managing their space. Whether that means rethinking layouts, shifting to shared or collaborative work areas, or releasing space that is no longer needed, units are empowered to make decisions that improve both efficiency and impact.
Learn More
For more information on how space is managed at Rice, or how departments can optimize their own space:
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Visit the Capital Planning & Space Management website for policies, reports, and tools that guide how Rice plans and allocates space.
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Read the 2024 Annual Space Report to explore how the university’s space portfolio is evolving.
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Contact Angie Chen, Executive Director of Space Management, at angie.chen@rice.edu with questions or to explore how to make more effective use of your space.