Case Studies
Real examples of campuses that transformed instead of closing, followed by our modeled transformation plans for campuses facing closure now.
It’s Already Happening
Detroit, MI
A closed Catholic college transformed into a cradle-to-career educational campus serving 1,000+ students from birth through adulthood.
Before
Marygrove College closed in 2019 after years of declining enrollment and mounting debt. The 53-acre campus in northwest Detroit faced an uncertain future.
After
"No other private college has made a transition like this in the face of financial pressure to preserve its presence in the community while opening new opportunity pathways to serve students of all ages."
Source: Kresge Foundation
Plainfield, VT
A closed Vermont college campus purchased by a developer who is creating housing, arts spaces, and cultural offerings — bringing new life to a flood-stricken rural community.
Before
Goddard College, a progressive institution founded in 1938, closed its Plainfield campus. The rural Vermont community faced losing its cultural anchor.
After
Even without a nonprofit model, a campus can be reimagined to serve community needs — housing, culture, and gathering — when the buyer cares about the place.
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Albany, NY
After the 104-year-old college closed in 2024, a county land authority stepped in to manage the nearly 30-acre campus and plan community-serving reuse.
Before
The College of Saint Rose closed in 2024 after 104 years, leaving a 30-acre campus in Albany's residential Pine Hills neighborhood.
After
When local government acts quickly, a closing campus can be preserved for community benefit rather than lost to speculative development.
Source: Bloomberg
What We Would Build
These are Transform Learning’s own modeled plans — not completed projects. Revenue figures are illustrative projections based on market analysis and comparable programs. Actual results require site-specific assessment.
Oakdale, PA · Closed August 2024 · For Sale
Trades Training Center
The existing trades building becomes a CDL, welding, electrical, and HVAC training hub. Equipment is already there. WIOA-funded students on day one.
Culinary Incubator
Professional kitchens (6th floor) become a licensed commercial kitchen for food entrepreneurs + community cooking classes.
Tech Skills Academy
Classrooms become IT certification, cybersecurity, and coding bootcamp spaces. Partner with CompTIA and Google for credentials.
Workforce Housing
461 dorm beds → transitional housing for training students, short-term corporate stays, and affordable community units.
Event & Conference Center
Main building 5th floor gallery + grounds → corporate events, weddings, community gatherings.
Business Incubator
Office wings become co-working, maker space, and small business incubator. 100+ acres of excess land for future development.
Community Fitness & Wellness
Athletic facilities → community gym memberships, youth sports, wellness programs.
K-12 STEM Campus
180 acres of outdoor space + labs → regional outdoor education center for school districts. Summer STEM camps.
Amherst, MA · Closing Fall 2026
Ecological Learning Center
Hampshire's existing farm and 800 acres become a regional outdoor education and ecological research destination. K-12 field trips, citizen science, conservation workshops.
Artists' Colony & Residency
Studio spaces and housing become artist residencies, writer retreats, and creative workshops. Build on Hampshire's arts legacy.
Workforce Skills Hub
Classrooms become training centers for healthcare, trades, and tech certifications. Pioneer Valley has workforce gaps.
Retreat & Conference Center
800 acres in the Berkshire foothills. Corporate retreats, yoga retreats, wedding venue, academic conferences. Dorms become rustic-luxury lodging.
Community Farm & Food Hub
Expand the existing farm into a community-supported agriculture program, farm-to-table dining, and food entrepreneur incubator.
Senior Lifelong Learning
Retiree-rich Pioneer Valley population gets enrichment courses, nature walks, art classes, and social connection in a beautiful campus setting.
Rural Midwest · Considering Closure
Workforce Training
Main building becomes training center for in-demand certifications. Partner with regional employers. WIOA funding covers most students.
Community Health Clinic
Partner with nearest hospital system for a satellite clinic. The community lost its last doctor. This brings healthcare back.
Faith & Community Center
Chapel becomes multi-faith community space. Counseling, AA/NA meetings, food pantry, community dinners. Honor the institution's roots.
Youth & Family Programs
Gym and fields → after-school programs, summer camps, youth sports leagues. Dining hall → community meals program.
Senior Enrichment
Art, music, Bible study, fitness, technology classes for the growing retiree population. They have time and disposable income.
Affordable Housing
3 residence halls → mix of workforce housing, senior independent living, and transitional housing. Filling a critical community need.
Every campus is different. We’ll build a transformation model specific to your buildings, your community, and your people.
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