Insights from this year’s UDF Annual Conference

Three weeks ago, two members of our Education sector went to the University Design Forum annual conference.

Scarlett Tong Petchey, Associate Design Manager and Sector Lead, and Emily Zinselmeier, Senior Design Manager, attended insightful talks and visited landmark buildings during this two-day event held in Stratford.

As 2025 marks the 30-year anniversary of the UDF, the conference focused on the past, present, and future of the education sector. Discussions were held on the challenges the sector faces with the changing student demographic and financial impact of student numbers, as well as how to maintain and develop the existing university estate. Focus should be on maximising the potential of existing assets to create integrated destination campuses, followed by the delivery of new buildings as required to enhance what is offered. This will continue the trend of delivering complex retrofit developments, an area in which Plan A has consistently provided valuable assistance in both past and current projects.

Consideration was also given to how technologies and AI will impact future university estates. Interesting discussions were held on how to engage with the complex stakeholder groups found in academic environments, to help facilitate conversations about the future of teaching and its potential impact on the built environment. The complexities of stakeholder engagement are a key consideration for Plan A on many projects, particularly in terms of how this process integrates with the design programmes we create for the design team.

Learning about the challenges, opportunities, and identifying trends is, as always, extremely valuable for our sectors. This helps us inform and tailor our design management services and approach to complex projects with a diversity of stakeholders.

It was also a pleasure to exchange ideas about the education sector and built environment in general with new faces and familiar ones.

Discovering Sadler’s Wells East, London College of Fashion (UAL), and UCL Marshgate was also a highlight. Thank you to O’Donnell + Tuomey, Allies and Morrison, and Stanton Williams for your time and for showing us around.