Industry News

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is engaged in a $102-million expansion of its law school. The project consists of the construction of a new 100,000-sf academic building and the expansion and renovation of existing facilities. Completion is expected in 2012. Additionally, the University will construct a 47,000-sf data center to support its health system operations. The $50.9 million facility is slated for completion in 2010. Both projects broke ground in mid-2008.

centrotherm photovoltaics is constructing a thin-film R&D center in Blaubeuren, Germany. Slated for completion by year-end 2008, the project will include a thin-film laboratory with leading edge analysis tools and pilot fabrication for CIGS lines. The facility will employ 20 staff members. Construction on the facility began in January of 2008.

Marquette University is planning to construct the $100 million Discovery Learning Complex in Milwaukee. Housing the College of Engineering, the facility will be structured around 15 pods housing conjoined classrooms, faculty offices, and research labs in each grouping. The project will feature multidisciplinary labs for materials and structural testing, complex systems, mechatronics, visualization, neuromechanics, and biomedical imaging. A specialized energy workshop lab will focus on development of alternative energy resources.

Hendrick Medical Center will break ground in late fall of 2008 on an $80 million expansion of its healthcare campus in Abilene, Texas. Dubbed “Project 2010”, the project will include a four-story patient tower with surgical and birthing suites and a separate physician office building. The new Hendrick Children's Hospital, featuring visual themes from the Berenstain Bears, will house larger patient rooms, pediatric ICU, and chemotherapy. Project 2010 will consist of 200,000-sf of new construction and 38,000-sf of renovation. Completion is slated for fall of 2010.

Loyola University’s Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons was designed to achieve a 50 percent reduction in energy usage as compared to buildings utilizing conventional HVAC systems. The building became functional in mid-January 2008 and has quickly proven itself to be a green success. Energy usage data collected so far indicates that the LEED Silver building is saving more than the projected 50 percent. Hill Mechanical Group of Franklin Park, Ill., installed the HVAC system for the four-story, 70,000-sf facility.