Higher Education

San Diego State University began work in early 2025 on a new STEM facility to enhance student success and increase research access and productivity. SmithGroup designed this iconic campus destination to advance innovation and discovery while addressing growing industry demand for science graduates. Spanning 79,000 gsf, the five-story center will provide approximately 38,000 asf of space for instructional and research laboratories, including both wet and dry environments, as well as related support spaces and faculty offices.

Cornell University is planning to expand Duffield Hall to create a vibrant home for the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering in Ithaca, N.Y. Supported by a $100 million donation, the project will add 130,000 sf of new and renovated space. Upon completion, the 300,000-sf facility will feature an embedded, low-vibration research wing for quantum computing on a built-out basement level, complemented by three stories above grade.

The Medical College of Wisconsin is constructing the $153 million Center for Cancer Discovery on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus. Centralizing the university’s cancer research programs under one roof, this dynamic hub will catalyze discoveries in cancer biology, expand clinical trials, and create groundbreaking treatments for patients. 

Brown University is constructing a 76,000-sf indoor turf facility to expand capacity for varsity, intramural, and recreational sports activities. Designed by Sasaki, the versatile building will address a critical need for year-round indoor practice space, offering a controlled environment where athletes can maintain their competitive edge regardless of weather conditions.

Utah State University is constructing a new facility for the College of Veterinary Medicine to advance animal health, biomedical sciences, and public health. The 106,000-sf Veterinary Medical Education Building will accommodate growing programs and drive groundbreaking research, providing comprehensive training for the professionals needed to support Utah’s agricultural sector. Representing an investment of approximately $77 million, the state-funded structure will offer an additional 4,055 sf of lab space between two teaching labs.

The University of Southampton broke ground in March of 2025 on a £180 million ($230 million) teaching and learning building on the Highfield campus in the United Kingdom. Designed by Sheppard Robson to foster creativity, collaboration, and academic excellence, the 166,800-sf facility will house lecture halls, seminar rooms, and faculty office space. The five-story structure will serve as the new home for the university’s Primary Care Research Centre and the Faculty of Medicine.

The 350,000-sf Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University (BU) brings 3,000 students, faculty, and staff together daily inside a LEED platinum-certified 19-story structure that sits at the heart of the university’s main campus. By replacing most of the building’s Portland cement with other supplementary cementitious materials, installing triple-glazed windows and fins to reduce the solar load, and heating and cooling the building with geothermal boreholes paired with active chilled beams, the project team created one of the largest sustainable and operationally fossil-fuel-free buildings in Boston.

Though universities may update master plans every five or 10 years, many find planning works best when it is continual and flexible to accommodate program and leadership changes. A number of projects at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (HSC) in Fort Worth demonstrate the need to assess existing spaces and develop plans for growth and flexibility, as well as the benefits of building long-term relationships with architects and other vendors.

The University of Auckland celebrated the opening of a world-class sports and recreation center called Hiwa in February of 2025 in New Zealand. The NZD320 million (USD180 million) facility will act as a leading destination where international sports teams can engage in advanced training. Spanning eight stories, the 280,000-sf development will also provide students and the general public with access to premier health and fitness amenities.

California State University San Marcos is planning to construct the Integrated Science and Engineering (IS&E) building to drive innovation and growth in advanced technology and the life sciences. The 70,000-gsf structure will house the College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics’ growing programs in electrical engineering, computer science, systems engineering, and software engineering.

Rice University opened the Rice Nexus in February of 2025 in Houston's Midtown neighborhood. Spanning 10,000 sf across two floors, the university’s flagship innovation hub is based in the Ion building to drive entrepreneurship and commercialization in association with industry partners. Tramonte Design Studio's vision for the Rice Nexus created labs for advanced tech development and free office space for early-stage startups, as well as showcasing faculty and student inventions.

Arkansas State University broke ground on the $33.2 million College of Veterinary Medicine in March of 2025. Designed by Cooper Mixon Architects, Archimania, and Perkins&Will, the 56,000-sf facility will feature state-of-the-art laboratory spaces, including an anatomy lab, a clinical skills lab, and a surgical skills training area. A dedicated clinical practice area, available 24/7, will enable students to hone hands-on examination and procedural competencies.

Pennsylvania Western University is constructing a 63,500-sf science building to advance education and research in the natural sciences. Located on the PennWest California campus, the $39 million facility was designed by DRAW Collective to foster experiential learning and put science on display. Driving interdisciplinary collaboration, the three-story structure will house 17 labs and 19 science support areas tailored for disciplines including biology, physics, chemistry, microbiology, ecology, and anatomy and physiology.

Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is building the Technology Engineering Innovation Center, an approximately 73,000-sf facility that will anchor an evolving STEM corridor on the north part of campus. Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the split-level structure will act as a central hub for departments within the College of Technology, Architecture, and Applied Engineering.

Denison University broke ground in February of 2025 on the Center for Data Reasoning & Visualization in Granville, Ohio. Designed by The Collaborative, the $35 million project will rejuvenate the 21,250-sf Doane Hall and create a 17,700-sf addition. This dynamic new home for the departments of computer science and data analytics will position Denison to be the first liberal arts college with a state-of-the-art campus hub devoted to integrating data across the curriculum.