Higher Education

Monash University is constructing the Biomedical Learning and Teaching Building in Victoria. Designed by Denton Corker Marshall, the $81 million facility will feature four flexible labs that can be configured and conjoined to accommodate 60, 120, or 240 students. Supporting programs in microbiology, anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, and physiology, the 123,700-sf building will provide Physical Containment Level 2 (PC2) labs, technology-rich dissection labs, breakout spaces, and a 12,900-sf informal learning hub.

Michigan State University opened the $88.1 million Grand Rapids Research Center in September of 2017. The six-story, 162,800-sf project provides the College of Human Medicine with open laboratories to support up to 44 biomedical research teams. Designed and engineered by SmithGroupJJR with Ellenzweig as laboratory design consultant, the vibration-mitigated facility features core labs for flow cytometry, bioinformatics, and microscopy.

Sinclair Community College opened the $31.5 million Sifferlen Health Sciences Center in August of 2017 in Dayton, Ohio. Designed by LWC to support collaborative medical education, the 141,350-sf project included the renovation of an existing 80,170-sf building and construction of a 61,180-sf addition. Featuring advanced simulation training suites, the facility provides a centralized location for the college’s health science classrooms and will accommodate 53 degree and certificate programs.

The University of Maryland completed construction of the $169 million A. James Clark Hall in September of 2017 in College Park. Designed by Ballinger, the collaborative 184,000-sf facility houses the Department of Bioengineering and the Institute for Biomedical Devices. The multidisciplinary building offers flex classrooms, a vivarium, an atrium, flexible wet and dry labs, a high-bay innovation lab, and space for programs in biology, information technology, and mechanical engineering.

Murray State University opened the $37 million Engineering Physics Building in August of 2017 in Murray, Ky. Designed by Hastings+Chivetta with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 72,500-sf undergraduate science facility features collaborative teaching and research labs for biology, chemistry, engineering, electronics, astronomy, and materials science.

Under the leadership of founding dean Chell Roberts, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego is revamping its engineering pedagogy and infrastructure to incorporate abundant maker experience. Since his appointment four years ago, Roberts has overseen a 7,000-nsf renovation creating space to house the three phases of the engineering cycle—ideate, prototype, and realize—that replicate the industry model. The aim is to produce graduates who can hit the ground running when they move into their first position in the real-world engineering workplace.

Boston University opened the $140 million Center for Integrated Life Sciences and Engineering (CILSE) in September of 2017. Designed by Payette, the nine-story, 170,000-sf facility houses the Center for Systems Neuroscience, the Biological Design Center, the Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging, and the Center for Sensory Communication and Neuroengineering Technology. The interdisciplinary building features a human Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) suite, a Siemens 3 Tesla MRI, and space for behavioral testing and computational research.

Concordia College opened the $45 million Integrated Science Center in late August of 2017 in Moorhead, Minn. Designed by Foss Architecture and EYP Architecture and Engineering, the 130,200-sf project included the renovation of the existing Ivers and Jones Science Center and construction of a three-story, 58,000-sf atrium. Designed to support interactive, collaborative learning, the interdisciplinary facility provides 19 teaching labs and 16 classrooms, including T-search labs for integrated instructional and research activities.

Armstrong State University broke ground in late August of 2017 on the $22 million Waters College of Health Professions in Savannah, Ga. Designed to accommodate team-based medical education, the interactive 75,000-sf facility will feature technology-rich simulation training labs for undergraduate programs including nursing, public health, physical therapy, and health administration. The project is being created in collaboration with Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, with which Armstrong State’s Savanna campus will eventually merge.

Binghamton University opened the $70 million Smart Energy Building in late August of 2017 in Vestal, N.Y. Located in the Innovative Technologies Complex, the two-story, 114,000-sf project accommodates research and development programs for the departments of chemistry and physics. Supporting the creation of advanced clean energy solutions, the collaborative facility provides laboratories, classrooms, 45 faculty offices, and a total of 125 fume hoods.

There are positive signs that funding for scientific research will not only be maintained, but will once again increase. Earlier this month, the Senate Appropriations Committee overwhelmingly approved $36.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health for the upcoming fiscal year. If approved intact, it will mark the third consecutive year that the NIH receives a $2 billion increase. The House Appropriations Committee already approved a $1.1 billion increase.

Saint Paul College opened the $20 million Health and Science Alliance Center in September of 2017 in St. Paul, Minn. Designed by Bentz/Thompson/Rietow and Oliver & Associates with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the four-story, 45,000-sf facility provides two flexible classrooms for STEM and health science programs, four science labs, two simulation labs, three general classrooms, and three classrooms supporting industry partnerships.

Rhodes College dedicated the $34 million Robertson Hall in late August of 2017. Designed by Hanbury to support an interactive, experiential pedagogy, the 55,000-sf science facility houses six teaching labs, five research labs, two classrooms, faculty offices, and collaborative study areas. The sustainably designed building features automated LED lighting, sophisticated building systems, and areas with floor-to-ceiling glazing.

The University of Oklahoma is constructing the 70,000-sf Gallogly Hall in Norman. Housing the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, the facility will provide advanced classrooms, teaching and research labs, group meeting areas, a makerspace, a rooftop terrace, and an interaction lounge. Comprising four stories and a basement level, the building will also house the offices of the Diversity and Inclusion program. Ground was broken on the project in April of 2017 and occupancy is expected in September of 2019. 

Providence College is engaged in a $50 million expansion and renovation of the Albertus Magnus Science Complex in Providence, R.I. Designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative, the project includes construction of a three-story, 36,000-gsf addition that will act as a new front entrance, and renovation of 70,000 gsf in three existing buildings accommodating programs in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, physics, and psychology.