Higher Education

The new Vicki Sara Building on the urban campus of the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, includes a massive “Super Lab”—a single open floor plate of more than 8,600 sf that serves 220 students in any configuration up to a maximum of 12 separate classes simultaneously. From 2,500 to 3,000 students, over several sessions a day, pass through the lab each week. Powered by IT integration, the Sydney facility serves students studying chemistry, biology, cell biology/biochemistry, physics, physiology, and pharmacy compounding.

Other building features include:

Chapman University broke ground on the $130 million Center for Science and Technology in late April of 2016 in Orange, Calif. Accommodating the Schmid College of Science and Technology and the Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the three-story, 140,000-sf facility will provide advanced teaching and research space for biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, math, computational science, food science, psychology, and health science.

Assumption College broke ground in April of 2016 on a $15 million, 60,000-sf academic building in Worcester, Mass. Designed by Nault Architects, the facility will provide seminar rooms, study areas, a technology-rich performance hall with 400 seats, and 13 classrooms for team-based learning. Occupancy of the sustainably designed building is expected in fall of 2017.

Signing the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment pledge is one thing, but complying with it is quite another. At the University of Pennsylvania, compliance meant renovating the HVAC systems in a 140,000-gsf chemistry research and teaching facility built in 1973. Converting the building’s constant-volume ventilation system, which provided 22 air changes per hour (ACH) 24 hours a day, to a variable-volume system providing 4 to 12 ACH would yield massive energy savings. The catch? Doing it without kicking anyone out.

The University of Sydney opened the AUD$150 million Sydney Nanoscience Hub in April of 2016. Housing the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology (AINST), the facility features ISO Class 5 and Class 7 cleanrooms to support advanced research in photonics, engineered quantum systems, and energy technologies. Providing core labs as well as teaching space, the Nanoscience Hub accommodates device design, fabrication, and testing in a single location.

Loyola University Chicago opened the $137 million Center for Translational Research and Education in April of 2016. Created in partnership with Trinity Health, the five-story, 225,000-sf facility provides teaching and research space for the Stritch School of Medicine, the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, and Loyola University Health System.

The University of Cambridge opened the $40 million Maxwell Centre in April of 2016 in the United Kingdom. Designed to promote the commercialization of new technologies, the 53,800-sf project provides the Cavendish Laboratory with advanced research space for engineering, physical science, and materials science integrated with facilities for industry partners. The building features a layered lab structure that allows alterations to individual labs without the need for further renovations.

The University of Pennsylvania dedicated the $68.6 million Stephen A. Levin Building in April of 2016 in Philadelphia. Designed by SmithGroupJJR, the six-story, 78,000-sf facility accommodates collaborative research in the neural and behavioral sciences. The interdisciplinary project connects two existing structures and houses classrooms, laboratories, offices, study areas, interaction space, and a 170-seat auditorium.

At the inception of a new interdisciplinary science building, bricks-and-mortar considerations must take a back seat to a big-picture view of issues related to organization, funding, governance, and the long-range vision of the institution. The resolution of these issues early on leads to projects that are more successful—not necessarily in terms of cost savings, but in the essential criterion of aligning a new facility with specific academic strengths and the broader institutional mission.

Howard University opened the $70 million Interdisciplinary Research Building in Washington in April of 2016.  Designed by HDR in association with Lance Bailey and Associates, the collaborative 81,670-sf facility provides laboratories, offices, conference rooms, and a Class 10 cleanroom. General contractor Turner Construction broke ground on the project in spring of 2013.

Western Kentucky University broke ground in April of 2016 on the $48 million Ogden College Hall in Bowling Green. Designed by Ross Tarrant Architects with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 83,000-sf facility will provide a 300-seat auditorium, administrative offices for the College of Science and Engineering, and 36 laboratories for chemistry, biology, and physics.

SUNY Buffalo State has completed the second phase of a three-phase project that will transform its science education facilities by consolidating multiple science departments into a single facility, establishing a hub for the STEM curriculum. Originally built in 1962, the 171,000-sf Science Building No. 15 undertook a $107 million expansion project to create a science complex that is one of the few interdisciplinary facilities in the SUNY system.

Appalachian State University will break ground in July of 2016 on a $70 million facility for the Beaver College of Health Sciences in Boone, N.C. Designed by LS3P, the 203,000-sf project will consolidate teaching and research space currently dispersed in seven buildings across campus. The facility will be located adjacent to the Watauga Medical Center on land donated by Appalachian Regional Healthcare System. The construction manager at risk for the project is Rodgers Builders.

Coventry University is constructing the $52 million Science and Health Building in the United Kingdom. The five-story multidisciplinary facility will provide classrooms, simulation training suites, science labs, and core research space for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The 121,200-gsf (75,500-nsf) project is being built by BAM Construction. Completion is expected by fall of 2017.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley broke ground in March of 2016 on the $54 million Academic Building in Brownsville. Comprised of two three-story structures, the 102,551-sf complex will provide four chemistry labs, two environmental science labs, faculty offices, classrooms, and space for the School of Music. The project team includes Bartlett Cocke General Contractors and Garrett Mechanical.