University of Glasgow

Confronted with aging infrastructure and pressure to decarbonize, the University of Glasgow developed a long-term campus transformation strategy centered on net-zero operations and community integration. New buildings were designed as mixed-use research and teaching environments, while older structures were retrofitted with smart energy systems and shared laboratory cores.

Beyond sustainability metrics, the initiative reshaped how space was used: departments began co-locating around thematic challenges such as urban health, climate adaptation, and materials innovation. The case illustrates how physical redesign can drive cultural change, fostering collaboration and positioning the university as an anchor institution within the city’s innovation ecosystem