Natural attraction

Have you ever wondered why you're drawn to Starbucks for a coffee as opposed to a small indie shop?  What about buying an iPhone as opposed to an alternate high-performance cellular phone?  Well, in the article 5 Ways Architecture Defines the University Brand, the key influences for universities communicating their brand are explained.  For instance, people care about History and Heritage, they care about the connection to the surrounding environment, and they care about the interiors and "guts" of the buildings.

My takeaway from this article is not which university is the best nor the key points articulated, but rather, in the same way prospective employees are very interested in a company's corporate culture and organization, so too is the population heading towards post-secondary education.  And so it appears that design and architecture are key elements in transforming ideas, organizations, and institutions into desirable destinations for meaningful, productive, and purposeful work to take place.  The notion that the built environment is a major point of attraction for anyone is a major influence for development and construction.

If post-secondary institutions are where future leaders are developed, ones who will drive growth, foster innovation and strive for success, shouldn't the way we approach design and construction in these places be at the highest of levels?  In fact, I'm almost of the opinion that this is where all of the best design and architectural ideas should be borne.  Don't you?