TEFMA Webinar - May 18 2026 - Future‑Ready Campuses: How Early Sustainability Decisions Shape Net‑Zero, Resilient Universities
Webinar: Future‑Ready Campuses: How Early Sustainability Decisions Shape Net‑Zero, Resilient Universities
Date: Monday 18th May 2026
Cost: Free for TEFMA Members Registration Open
Location: Virtual via Zoom link
Presenters: Brooke Penman (Cundall)
Masterplanning a university campus is a rare opportunity to shape not only the physical environment, but the culture, identity, and long term sustainability trajectory of an institution. Embedding sustainability principles at the earliest stages of masterplanning ensures the campus can evolve in alignment with the university’s overarching sustainability goals whether aiming for net zero emissions, enhancing resilience, improving student wellbeing, or supporting innovative learning and research environments.
Early integration enables planners and designers to strategically analyse space use, creating efficient, flexible, and future ready campus layouts. By understanding movement patterns, academic needs, and emerging modes of learning, universities can optimise land use, reduce operational costs, and minimise environmental impacts.
A sustainability led masterplan also highlights opportunities to harness existing embedded networks, energy, water, transport, biodiversity and design systems that maximise the performance of on site renewable energy. As universities progress toward zero carbon targets, electrification of both existing and new assets becomes essential, requiring careful planning of network capacity, staged transitions away from fossil fuel systems, and future readiness for technologies such as large scale battery storage and electric mobility.
Using recognised sustainability rating tools such as Green Star Communities, Green Star Buildings, and Green Star Performance provides robust, independent verification of best practice. These frameworks support universities in setting ambitious targets early, maintaining accountability through delivery, and ensuring long term operational excellence across their estate.
Beyond environmental outcomes, sustainable campus planning shapes vibrant, inclusive communities. High quality public spaces, active transport links, green corridors, and social hubs attract students, support wellbeing, and reinforce institutional identity.
This webinar will explore principles, strategies, and real world examples demonstrating how early sustainability decisions unlock long term value, resilience, and community vibrancy for universities.
Who should attend:
This webinar is designed for university planners, estate and facilities managers, and asset planning professionals involved in campus masterplanning and renewal. It will also be relevant to sustainability leaders and decision makers responsible for aligning capital works, operational performance and long term estate strategies. Attendees who are rethinking how their campuses function, how existing assets can be decarbonised, and how future investment can support student experience, rankings and institutional objectives will find this session particularly valuable.
What you will get from the presentation:
- Understand how early integration of sustainability principles influences long term campus outcomes
- Explore how masterplanning can support net zero pathways, including electrification of existing and new assets
- Learn how to optimise campus land use, space efficiency, and future flexibility through sustainability-led planning
- Understand how Green Star Communities, Green Star Buildings, and Green Star Performance provide robust frameworks and independent verification of best practice
- Discover how sustainable masterplanning enhances student experience and campus identity
Interested? REGISTER NOW!
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