Research confirms that active and engaging university classrooms improve learning outcomes, but what features produce the most positive—and cost-effective—results? Surprisingly, perhaps, advanced technology is not nearly as high on the list of success factors as whiteboards, flexible furniture, and other space-related amenities.
Duke University has resurrected an outdated chemistry lab building slated for demolition, and transformed it into an interdisciplinary hub for research and teaching in engineering, sciences, and social sciences. A two-story central atrium (pictured above) forms a focal point around which most other spaces are organized: classroom and academic areas, research labs, break spaces, and conference rooms.
Fanshawe College is creating a new campus in downtown London, Ontario. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects in association with Philip Agar, the facility will house the college’s IT, hospitality, and tourism programs. The project team includes construction manager EllisDon and consulting firms Amec Foster Wheeler, Development Engineering, Hastings & Aziz, and Smith + Andersen. Completion is expected in 2018.
The University of Cambridge is planning to relocate the Cavendish Laboratory to its West Cambridge campus in the United Kingdom. The $100 million replacement facility will feature a cleanroom, research laboratories, instructional space, and large-scale experimental chambers. The project team includes design architect Jestico + Whiles, project manager Sweett, engineering consultant Ramboll, and cost management consultant Aecom. Occupancy is expected in 2020.
The University of Texas at Dallas opened the $108 million Bioengineering and Sciences facility in June of 2016. Designed to promote interaction and collaboration, the four-story, 220,000-sf project is physically connected to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Laboratory. The facility provides classrooms, faculty offices, and teaching and research labs for programs in biology, chemistry, physics, and electrical and mechanical engineering. Construction began on the project in late 2013.
Collin College opened the Cary A. Israel Health Sciences Center in January of 2016. Located on the Central Park campus in McKinney, Texas, the 125,000-sf facility provides classrooms, offices, and laboratories for programs in nursing, surgical technology, emergency services, respiratory care, and sleep disorders therapy. Designed by PBK Architects and built by Pogue Construction, the three-story project features a large simulation training center with advanced patient simulators and a 150-seat lecture hall.
The University of Wyoming opened the $50 million Michael B. Enzi STEM Facility in Laramie in January of 2016. Designed to promote team-based, interactive learning, the 107,000-sf building features studio-style classrooms and an atrium commons area. The three-story facility provides 32 teaching labs for instruction in chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, physics, mathematics, life sciences, and computer science. The building also houses an atmospheric sciences lab to support collaborative research with the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center in Cheyenne.
Bellevue College opened its $21.8 million Health Sciences Building in December of 2015 in Bellevue, Wash. Designed by LMN Architects and built by Bayley Construction, the 70,500-sf facility provides classrooms and teaching labs for programs in imaging and nursing, as well as academic and administrative offices. The Health Sciences Building features a five-room simulation training lab and two clinical skills labs with a total of 20 hospital beds.
Hudson County Community College is constructing the $25 million Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics building on its Jersey City campus. The 70,000-sf facility will provide classrooms, science labs, lecture halls, offices, computer labs, student lounges, and a café. Occupancy is expected in 2017.
Complex technology, expanding program, and increasingly specialized and segmented roles and responsibilities often create a disconnect in the process of designing and building sophisticated facilities. The result can be a research or diagnostic lab or high-containment animal building that becomes a burden to the owner, whether because it hasn’t been right-sized, is not energy efficient, or operates with sub-par reliability. The solution is to assign someone the task of aligning design decisions with the building’s ultimate scientific mission.
Coppin State University’s new four-story Science and Technology Center houses the Math/Computer Science Department, the Natural Sciences Department, and research space for faculty and advanced undergraduate students. It also contains the campus-wide IT Department, along with a major campus data center. General classrooms and computer labs on the lower level of the building are open to the entire campus, along with an exhibit space and a 100-student lecture hall. Other features include an outdoor garden classroom, green roof, and technologically enhanced collaboration spaces.
The University of St. Andrews is planning to build a $15 million marine research laboratory at East Sands in St. Andrews, Scotland. The 24,000-sf facility will act as a global oceanic research hub supporting the study of conservation and climate change. The project will accommodate the headquarters of the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) as well as housing the Scottish Oceans Institute, including the Sea Mammal Research Unit.
Carleton University began construction in December of 2015 on a $52 million (USD$36.8 million) health sciences building in Ottawa. The seven-story, 120,000-sf facility will provide classrooms and open laboratories to support neuroscience and health sciences programs. The project will also include collaborative research space for the study of healthy aging and infectious diseases. Completion is expected in August of 2017.
Richard J. Daley College will begin construction in 2016 on a $75 million advanced manufacturing center in Chicago. The project will support the estimated 14,000 manufacturing jobs that are projected to come to Chicago in the next ten years. The facility will open in fall of 2018.
Saint Mary's University is building the $19 million Science and Learning Center in Winona, Minn. The three-story, 50,000-sf teaching and research facility will physically connect to the existing Adducci Science Center and will provide advanced labs and classrooms to support interactive learning. Designed and built by Wight & Company of Chicago, the center will feature a 120-seat tiered auditorium and a three-story atrium. Ground was broken on the project in October of 2015 and completion is expected in June of 2017.
