If money were no object, schools would love to have an iconic design by a world-famous architect. People want to get the best-looking facilities they can. But they know they can't afford everything. We try to understand what the competing priorities are.

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The folks that really have their act together get the building they want.

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You have to have a president that is willing to walk away from gifts that aren't in line with what the school's needs are. That's really difficult, especially for schools that struggle to get cash.

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With student centers, many schools want a building that gives the campus a presence. That's the draw. In those cases, a school might sacrifice some of the program inside — maybe reduce the seating from 700 to 600.

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