Case Study: Minnesota State University saves $50M and eliminates 60,000 sq ft of wasted space with Accruent EMS

How Minnesota State saved $50M and eliminated 60,000 square feet of wasted space with EMS

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, a large public system spanning dozens of campuses, needed reliable data to guide expensive capital‑planning decisions. At Bemidji State University a deteriorating 83,000 sq ft 1970s classroom building prompted debate over whether to rebuild the same footprint (or larger), but a state “no new square footage” policy and limited budget made validation critical.

Using Accruent EMS reporting and optimization (time‑block, hourly room and seat utilization, and schedule optimization), the team simulated removing the building and reallocating courses across campus. They were able to place 100% of classes with fewer than a dozen time shifts, replace the 83,000 sq ft structure with a 23,000 sq ft building, and realize roughly $50 million in savings while eliminating about 60,000 sq ft of wasted space — a process now being applied systemwide with increased transparency and stakeholder buy‑in.

Minnesota State University

Stacy Brown

Minnesota State University