by Kurt Peeters, aia WELL AP, and Matt McGregor
This article originally appeared on the School Business Now website starting in August 2025 and is reposted with permission of the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). The text herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of ASBO International, and use of this imprint does not imply any endorsement or recognition by ASBO International and its officers or affiliates.
As school districts face limited land, rising costs, and evolving education needs, education leaders should consider the benefits of expanding up rather than out.
Education facilities often stretch across expansive plots, reflecting a mindset that equates space with functionality. But as school districts contend with limited land, rising costs, and evolving education needs, the strategy of spreading outward is being replaced by a smarter, more compact solution: going vertical.