Building Better Campus Experiences Through Capital Investment

OVERVIEW

A campus store is more than a place to just purchase course materials and merchandise. Through strategic partnerships and thoughtful capital investment, campus stores transform into inviting, engaging spaces that reflect each campus’ unique identity, strengthen community connections, and support long-term success.

In the webinar, Building Better Campus Experiences Through Capital Investment, leaders from Boston University, Norfolk State University, the University of Indianapolis, and the University of California, Berkeley shared how strategic store refreshes and renovations, led by Barnes & Noble College’s retail design expertise, transformed their campus stores into vibrant destinations for their communities.

From enhancing store visibility and functionality to celebrating campus traditions and creating new opportunities for engagement, the discussion highlighted the specific needs of each featured institution and how these transformations strengthened connections between campus stores and their communities. Panelists also explored how strategic investments of varying sizes can deliver meaningful improvements to the campus store experience.

“One of our biggest challenges was that the store felt disconnected from the Berkeley experience. It really just didn’t feel like it reflected our university,” said Ryan Adelman-Sessler, Director of Business Development & Commercial Activities at the University of California, Berkeley. “And there’s a lot of pride about going into the store and feeling like it reflects the university now.”

Watch the webinar recording to hear directly from institutional leaders about their campus transformations and the impact of strategic capital investment.