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By Chris Lovett
Over the past decade, Public-Private Partnerships( P3s) have fundamentally reshaped how universities and agencies think about development. What began as a tool for funding large public infrastructure projects has evolved into a model to support campus needs and expanding to building dynamic, mixeduse environments that integrate learning, living, and innovation.
No longer just financial mechanisms, P3s now serve as strategic frameworks that help institutions meet rising expectations, navigate fiscal constraints, and pursue sustainability goals. These partnerships allow campuses to modernize aging facilities, without taking on unsustainable debt, while maintaining long-term control of their land and mission.
Several converging trends are fueling the growth of P3s across higher education: the need to expand affordable campus housing, the opportunity to transform
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campus edges into revitalized, mixeduse districts, and the value of proximity, sharing spaces that foster collaboration, research, and innovation.
VHB plays a unique role in bridging the gap between an institution’ s vision and private sector execution, helping each navigate different priorities and timeframes. Whether reimagining a campus edge, launching a life sciences hub, or revitalizing a community district, our mission is the same: to guide projects that create lasting, positive impact. Dive
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into some example projects below:
Merrimack College Corner Development Project: For the VHB article Working with Greystar, Merrimack College is transforming this campus gateway into a lively, mixed-use district with 540 residential beds in suite-style housing, 12,600 square feet of academic space, and a fitness center. The revitalized campus gateway is a great example of how thoughtful governance, technical coordination, and mission-driven design can turn a campus edge into a dynamic
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hub of student life and engagement.
The Summit at Juniper: Facing a housing shortage that was impacting both campus life and the surrounding community, Dartmouth College partnered with a private developer to create 309 units to house more than 630 graduate students in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The project’ s design earned LEED Gold recognition, emphasizing sustainability, livability, and connection to nature, with green spaces, hiking trails, and a shuttle system improving access to campus.
The PVD Labs: Rhode Island’ s first life sciences incubator, this 212,000-squarefoot complex was created among state agencies, private investors, and academic institutions. Brown University’ s investment and presence at the site helps position Providence as a regional biotech hub, illustrating how P3s can serve both institutional priorities and community economic development while building regional resilience in the process.
With these projects and more, we’ re seeing what happens when institutional goals meet private innovation: not just new developments, but lasting community transformations.
Chris Lovett, PE, LEED AP, ENV SP, is a principal and the New England Institutions market leader at VHB.
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