Energy Use Reduction

The University of Washington and Gonzaga University broke ground in September of 2020 on a $60 million medical education hub in Spokane. Supporting the Regional Health Partnership initiative, the 90,000-sf facility will offer classrooms, interactive learning environments, research labs, an anatomy suite, and administrative offices. McKinstry, the developer of the public-private project, will own and manage the building, which will provide leased space for the UW School of Medicine and Gonzaga's programs in human physiology and nursing.

Johnson Controls opened the $37 million OpenBlue Innovation Center at the National University of Singapore in September of 2020. Located in the School of Design and Environment's SDE4 building, the 2,600-sf facility is a living laboratory for the development of customizable, contact-free applications built on Johnson Controls' unifying digital technology suite, OpenBlue.

Front Range Community College opened the $35 million Health Care Careers Center (HCCC) in September of 2020 in Fort Collins, Colo. Designed by Hord Coplan Macht, the 61,000-sf facility offers technology-rich classrooms, teaching labs, collaboration spaces, and group learning venues for programs in nursing and allied health professions.

Avista Development and McKinstry opened the $40 million Catalyst Building in Spokane in September of 2020. Designed by Michael Green Architecture, the five-story, 159,000-sf facility was built by Katerra using cross-laminated timber (CLT) structural components. Certified by the International Living Future Institute, the zero-carbon, net-zero building features a highly efficient heating and cooling system, a sophisticated building envelope, LED lighting, and integrated energy management technologies.

Kajima Corporation, one of Japan's largest construction companies, broke ground in August of 2020 on the $100 million Global Hub in Singapore. Designed to accelerate the creation of new building technologies, the 141,000-sf innovation center will feature a comprehensive robotic solutions suite. The Kajima Technical Research Institute Singapore (KaTris) will be located in the facility, which will leverage advanced automation and digitalization systems to optimize energy performance and reduce carbon emissions.

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) launched the latest version of the WELL Building Standard in September of 2020. Following two years of extensive development, in-use application, and review, WELL v2 is a vehicle for buildings and organizations to deliver spaces that contribute to improved human health through design strategies, operational protocols, performance standards, and policies that foster a culture of well-being.

Cape Cod Community College broke ground on the $38 million Frank & Maureen Wilkens Science and Engineering Center in August of 2020 in West Barnstable, Mass. The two-story, 37,000-sf STEM facility will feature interactive classrooms, technology-rich labs, a maker space, gathering areas, and flexible multiuse learning venues. Designed as an innovation hub for the creation and commercialization of new technologies, the center will encourage regional economic growth through collaborative training programs with industry partners.

The Bolivian National Service of Agricultural Health and Food Safety is planning to build a 201,076-sf research campus in Santa Cruz. Strengthening the country’s research and diagnosis capacity for veterinary, phytosanitary, and food safety challenges, the state-of-the-art complex will provide four laboratory buildings for animal health, plant health, food safety, and fruit fly research, as well as an administrative center.

The University of Washington broke ground in August of 2020 on the $100 million Health Sciences Education Building in Seattle. Designed by Miller Hull Partnership and The S/L/A/M Collaborative, the four-story, 100,000-sf facility will provide active learning classrooms for groups ranging from 16 to 128 students, as well as simulation suites, clinical skills labs, an anatomy lab with integrated virtual technologies, a commons area, study spaces, and a library.

The University of New Haven opened the $35 million Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation in August of 2020 in West Haven, Conn. Designed by Svigals+Partners, the three-story, 45,500-sf facility provides sophisticated science and engineering labs, technology-enabled collaborative classrooms, a maker space, an atrium, video production studios, and an e-sports training and competition hub. LEED Gold sustainable design certification is being sought for the structure, which is expected to use 40 percent less energy than a conventional facility.

The University of Colorado opened the $61.4 million William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center in August of 2020 in Colorado Springs. Designed by HOK and RTA Architects, the 104,600-sf facility integrates undergraduate and graduate education with clinical practice and research in a sports medicine and performance environment.

The International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) is expanding the Laboratory Benchmarking Tool. The new Operational Practices Module will enable lab owners and managers see how their building’s policies and practices compare with those of their peers in terms of lab ventilation rates, night temperature setbacks, occupant engagement programs, exhaust dispersion analyses, and other metrics.

ABB is planning to construct a $30 million manufacturing center in San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy. The 172,200-sf facility will support the production of direct-current battery chargers for electric vehicles. Accelerating the company's growth and innovation in the electromobility sector, the sustainably designed project will leverage highly efficient building systems and rooftop photovoltaic arrays to achieve optimal energy performance and reduce carbon emissions.

e4H Architecture is offering a webinar on August 21, 2020 at 12:00 PM EST. "Leveraging Sustainable Design at the Center of Excellence for Autism and Developmental Disorders" will explore this transformative 28,000-sf facility in South Portland, Maine.  

The University of North Dakota is planning to break ground in fall of 2020 on the $70 million Nistler College of Business and Public Administration in Grand Forks. Designed by JLG Architects, the four-story, 111,000-sf facility will offer highly flexible learning environments capable of accommodating a wide range of instructional modalities. Technology-enabled classrooms will support a combination of online and in-person instruction, with educational spaces right-sized for appropriate density metrics.