Facilities Planning: Avoid Short-sightedness

Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport cost more than GBP4.3 billion to build, yet only a couple of years after opening British Airways planes are backed up on the ramp approaching the terminal while awaiting gates and a strip of concrete has been set aside for remote aircraft parking; e.g., shuttle bus rides to/from the actual terminal. 

Inside T5, security lines are long, despite more than a dozen lanes. To be sure, the new terminal gleams, the duty-free stores are lovely, and the BA clubs are splendid, but the whole experience suffers from what appears to be short-sited planning. And the planning process for T5 took more than 4 years to complete!

 There is a lesson here for facilities planners in education: keep your focus on what matters most--the aspects of your buildings that most affect the educational program. It won't matter if your have the coolest architecture if you don't have enough (or the right size) classrooms.  A stunning recreation center won't compensate for creaky technology.