Industry News

West Virginia University will begin an $11 million renovation of its Engineering Sciences Building in Morgantown in May of 2007. The 33,000-sf project is comprised of a four-story addition including a two-story atrium, a 150-seat technology-rich lecture hall, a student learning center, teaching and research laboratories, and faculty offices. Additional office and lab space will be created in the renovated boiler room of the existing high-bay space. The project architect is Alpha Associates of Morgantown. Completion is slated for summer of 2008.

SANYO Commercial Solutions announces outstanding efficiency values and superior compliance with Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Register requirements for Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Multi-Split systems (Flexi-Multi and Mini ECO-I). Effective April 21, 2008, the Department of Energy mandated new testing procedures and ratings to measure the energy efficiency for Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Multi-Split residential air conditioners and heat pumps. To date, only two companies including SANYO have met these strict standards.

Drexel University has selected design firm Diamond + Schmitt Architects to design a new academic building at the heart of Drexel’s West Philadelphia campus. The $49-million facility will support the Department of Bioscience by providing state of the art learning spaces, 32 800-sf research laboratories, and nine 1,200-sf teaching labs. The five story, 28,500-sf building will also house the Steinbright Career Development Center which serves students and alumni in cooperative education and career placement.

Duke University is planning to construct the 120,000-sf Experimental and Collaborative Environment for Learning (EXCEL) for Pratt School of Engineering in Durham, N.C. Slated for completion in 2010, the project will feature "collaboratories," specialized facilities that combine laboratory and lecture space to enhance the intersection of education, research, and design experience.

Beloit College celebrated the groundbreaking of its $36.5 million Center for the Sciences in late April of 2007. The 116,000-sf facility will house 38 laboratories, 43 staff offices, and 12 classrooms. The project includes sustainable design features such as a vegetated roof, energy efficient technologies, and native plant landscaping. The Center houses a 1,500-sf atrium.