SmithGroup

Research into the causes of and potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases has always been inherently multidisciplinary, combining basic sciences with numerous medical specialties. At the same time, neuroscience research requires a variety of targeted specialized spaces. Facilities that support that research, therefore, must be designed to accommodate both the interdisciplinary and the specialized. “As we approach these projects, we need to have a completely open mindset and expect the unexpected,” says Alex Munoz, SmithGroup princpal and senior lab planner. “The facilities must be designed with flexible standards that are both highly specialized for current research and capable of being relevant in the future.”

The University of Hawaii at Hilo dedicated the $31 million Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy in December of 2019. Designed by SmithGroup and WCIT Architecture, the 45,000-sf facility offers technology-rich environments for applied learning including collaborative classrooms, teaching labs, seminar rooms, and a simulated pharmacy. The three-story structure includes research labs for pharmaceutical discovery as well as a medication therapy management suite, consultation rooms, and a resource center.

Michigan State University broke ground on the $85 million Doug Meijer Innovation Building in Grand Rapids in November of 2019. Designed by SmithGroup, the 205,000-sf facility will house multiple tenants including Spectrum Health, BAMF Health, and MSU's College of Human Medicine. The collaborative six-story building will enable the discovery and commercialization of new medical devices, artificial intelligence technologies, and treatments for cancer and dementia.

The University of Houston System opened its $46.8 million Katy campus in October of 2019. Designed by SmithGroup, the three-story, 83,000-sf facility accommodates programs in nursing, engineering, business, education, computer science, mathematics, psychology, and political science, as well as supporting online instruction courses. The three-story building offers teaching labs, classrooms, learning studios, engineering capstone project rooms, a virtual library with computers, student lounges, a multipurpose room, and a self-serve convenience store.

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville broke ground in October of 2018 on a $129 million engineering building. Designed by McCarty Holsaple McCarty with SmithGroup as laboratory planner, the 228,000-sf multidisciplinary building will provide the Tickle College of Engineering with flexible research labs, maker spaces, project rooms, collaboration areas, divisible classrooms, an atrium, and dedicated space for the department of nuclear engineering. Completion is expected in fall of 2021.