Samford University Partners with Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls and Landmark Development, in partnership with Samford University, have launched the first phase of a 15-year campus master plan to design, develop, operate and maintain campus improvements at Samford University in Homewood, Alabama. The plan positions Samford University for growth, mission fulfillment and long-term financial success by building and servicing the new facilities to accommodate planned enrollment growth while enhancing the experiences of students, staff, faculty and the community.

“Our experience working with higher education campuses and expertise in building technologies that deliver smart, healthy and sustainable environments uniquely qualifies Johnson Controls to help Samford create a modern, connected, and sustainable campus that offers a student lifestyle rich in Samford traditions, while providing a blueprint for the future,” said Mary-Suzanne Powell, vice president, Global Center of Excellence, Johnson Controls. “The execution of this master plan is a fundamental transformation of how Samford’s places and spaces are perceived and enjoyed, ensuring they adapt to meet new and evolving demands of students, faculty, staff and visitors.”

Samford, Johnson Controls, Landmark Development and a team of leading building and design companies have mapped out a long-term set of campus improvements and a technology roadmap designed to modernize all campus infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality and conservation measures. Johnson Controls will design and deploy the building technology plan as well as operate and maintain the campus buildings for several years, measuring and verifying results through the ongoing service agreement to ensure the buildings are optimized, efficient and continually upgraded as technology evolves. Landmark Development will lead the master development effort and provide asset management services to create enterprise value for the University and investors.

“We are enthusiastic about partnering with Samford University and Johnson Controls for decades to come as we bring our real estate and higher education expertise to create a campus that is the manifestation of Samford’s vision and embedded in generations of Samford students, faculty, and leaders,” said Bob Dunn, President & CEO, Landmark Development.

“These new improvements will strengthen our educational mission and help us to realize our long-term vision,” said President Beck A. Taylor, Samford University. “Johnson Controls has been a long-standing partner, successfully supporting our campus goals to create a greener, more efficient and beautiful residential campus community.”

Samford anticipates more than 5,900 students by fall of 2025, with approximately 75% living on campus. Phase one, scheduled to be completed for the start of fall 2025, includes the construction of a new 500-bed residence hall, two new 70-bed upper division residence halls, and a new parking garage.

Johnson Controls and Samford have partnered on campus improvement projects since 2016, including a $30 million campus-wide infrastructure modernization project that included a new chilled water plant, which consumes less than 40% of the energy that was required to operate the old plant. In addition, the implementation of a new Metasys building automation system supports Samford’s facilities team to properly schedule space conditions to create a positive learning environment, reduce energy consumption and identify maintenance needs before they become a problem.