Syracuse University earned recognition as a 2025 finalist in the Gartner Eye on Innovation Awards for Education (Americas region) for its Smart Campus Space and Occupancy initiative — a data and AI project developed with PwC that leverages the University's private 5G network to generate actionable intelligence about campus space utilization.
About the recognition
The Gartner Eye on Innovation Awards for Education honor institutions deploying technology innovatively to achieve excellence. A panel of Gartner experts selected finalists; education leaders globally choose winners. Syracuse's submission — "Smart Campus Space and Occupancy: A Unified Data Approach at Syracuse University" — competed among distinguished Americas institutions including Stanford Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Chicago, and a University of Michigan-Northwestern University partnership.
The work behind the recognition
Syracuse constructed one of America's largest private 5G networks with infrastructure partner JMA Wireless to enhance campus connectivity. Collaborating with PwC, the University integrated Microsoft Fabric and AI capabilities, consolidating more than 10 disparate data sources into unified modeling. This enabled leadership visibility into actual building and room usage patterns previously unavailable.
Privacy-respecting IoT thermal sensors and cameras tested in two buildings elevated occupancy precision from approximately 80% to 95%. Microsoft Copilot integration allows staff to pose conversational queries — "Which room is least used in the lab science building?" — receiving immediate, dependable responses rather than awaiting weeks of manual analysis.
Results that made the case
The initiative generated over 40 significant insights regarding space utilization, financial savings, and student experience. One building's analysis revealed rooms used three hours daily or less, enabling Syracuse to reallocate existing space rather than construct additional facilities.
"Before, departments held their data tight. But now that we've shown what's possible by sharing it, people say yes."
— Jeff Rubin, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer
Why it matters
This Gartner finalist designation elevates Syracuse's operational-AI initiatives to global prominence alongside premier research universities and healthcare institutions. It validates AI and data delivering concrete outcomes — optimized space utilization, genuine cost prevention, and accelerated decision-making — reflecting Syracuse's practical, results-oriented AI strategy throughout the institution.