Hunden Partners, a full-service real estate development advisory firm known for its expertise in placemaking, shared that Rob Hunden, CEO and founder, led a panel discussion at the P3 Higher Education Summit event on Oct. 7. This summit is a major gathering of higher education leaders focusing on the challenges of campus infrastructure across schools nationwide, with an emphasis on new approaches to procurement, risk, planning, and asset management.
Hunden moderated the panel titled “Mixed-Use Districts: Universities Blazing a Trail” with speakers including Heather Blanck, Chief Procurement Officer & Director of Strategic Sourcing at The University of Kansas; Rod Cleveland, Commissioner of Cleveland County, Oklahoma, the location of The University of Oklahoma’s new arena; Charles Landry, partner of Fishman Haygood, guiding development at Louisiana State University; and Steve Haemmerle, Executive Vice President of Hunden Partners.
The panel explored how universities are modernizing their aging sports facilities and other campus buildings by creating vibrant, mixed-use districts that enhance the fan experience, foster community engagement, attract private investment, and support broader strategic goals. The panelists shared insights on their transformative projects, highlighting the common challenges and the unique approaches reflective of their institutions’ distinct cultures and traditions. “These mixed-use districts provide universities the opportunity to better connect to alumni, industry partners, and their surrounding communities,” said Haemmerle.
“Universities continue to redefine themselves as complete places and ecosystems for economic impact, whether from events at sports facilities, hotels, conference centers, and entertainment venues or as year-round neighborhoods with a mix of residential, retail, restaurant, hotel, office, and research uses. Hunden’s work with these universities is creating comprehensive developments that induce ‘live, work, play and stay’ to higher education. We follow the same mixed-use best practices that are used to create great downtowns and neighborhoods. The result is greater economic impact, sustainability, improved reputation and a complete campus experience,” said Hunden.
