Case Study: Abilene Christian University achieves leadership buy-in and $11M funding to tackle deferred maintenance with Brightly Software

Abilene Christian University Gets Buy-In from Leadership with FCA

Abilene Christian University (about 4,000 on-campus students, 60+ buildings totaling 2.3M sq. ft.), led by Corey Ruff, faced a large deferred maintenance backlog and an understaffed facilities team. To move from reactive repairs toward preventive maintenance they needed an unbiased facilities condition assessment (FCA) to quantify needs and win senior leadership buy-in.

A third‑party FCA identified a $160M deferred maintenance backlog and gave the credibility needed to secure an $11M capital infusion. With that funding ACU launched a preventive maintenance program, replaced end‑of‑life mechanical systems, upgraded building automation, removed a problematic building, and achieved about 20% annual energy cost avoidance—freeing staff to work proactively.

Abilene Christian University

Corey Ruff

Executive Director of Facilities and Campus Management