Higher Education

Griffith University opened the $18 million Smart Water Research Centre in late November of 2009 on the Gold Coast campus in Queensland, Australia. The facility will support collaborative research with state water authorities and industry partners to develop technologies and solutions to secure future water supplies. The Smart Water Research Centre houses laboratories, distillation rooms, a resource center, and constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment.

The University of Minnesota opened the $69.5 million Medical Biosciences Building in Minneapolis in December of 2009. Designed by Perkins and Will, the 115,000-gsf facility was built by Kraus-Anderson with Sebesta Blomberg as infrastructure engineer. Housing medical research laboratories, offices, and conference space, the facility will support interdisciplinary collaborative research in immunology, neuroscience, cancer research, and infectious diseases. Ground was broken on the project in summer of 2007.

Queensland University of Technology has awarded Leighton Contractors a $205 million contract to manage the design and construction of the Science and Technology Precinct and Community Hub project. Located on the Gardens Point campus in Brisbane, the precinct will support research and teaching in science, technology, engineering, architecture, and mathematics. Comprised of two multi-story towers, the project will feature innovative teaching and research facilities. Construction will begin in 2010 with completion expected in 2012.

Lone Star College-Montgomery broke ground on November of 2009 on three facilities in The Woodlands, Texas. Designed by PBK Architects, the 75,000-sf General Academic Center, the Health Science Center, and the Music Hall are being built by Satterfield and Pontikes Construction.

The University of Georgia has awarded Art’s Way Manufacturing a $1.3 million contract to provide 6 modular swine facilities. Housing breeding, gestation, nursery, and finishing operations, the complex will support swine production research and training. The sustainably-designed project will utilize methane gas produced at the site to fire boilers used to treat animal waste. Exhaust fans connected to a biofilter will improve air quality and rainwater will be collected and recycled for cleaning and irrigation.

Eastern Illinois University broke ground on a biomass-fueled energy plant in Charleston in November of 2009. Reducing the university’s consumption of electricity by 6.2 million kilowatt hours annually and reducing output of carbon dioxide by 20,000 metric tons each year, the $55 million project is being constructed by Honeywell International. The plant will begin operations in fall of 2011.

Irvine Valley College dedicated the $19 million Business Sciences Building in Irvine, Calif., in November of 2009. The 53,000-sf, two-story building houses nine classrooms, seminar rooms, computer centers, and a media resource suite.

Fanshawe College officially broke ground in November of 2009 on the $31 million Centre for Applied Transportation Technologies in London. The 148,000-sf facility will house 16 classrooms, 13 laboratories, and seven workshops. Completion is expected in March of 2011.

Scott Community College began construction in November of 2009 on the $2.3 million Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. The 10,000-sf facility will house classrooms, three culinary labs, a bakery, and an instructional studio. The project team includes Downing Architects and Swanson Construction, both of Bettendorf. Completion is slated for July of 2010. Scott Community College is also building a $4.5 million science facility and a $2.5 million applied technology building.

Clemson University will initiate construction in the first quarter of 2010 on a wind turbine research facility in Charleston, S.C. Supported by a $45 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and $53 million in matching funds, the facility will be located at the university’s Restoration Institute at the former U.S. Naval Base. Occupancy is expected by 2012.

Texas Tech is broke ground in October of 2009 on the $70 million, 147,500-sf Rawls College of Business Administration in Lubbock. The technology-rich facility will feature interactive group learning workspaces to support a model of teamwork in the business environment. Initial occupancy will begin in fall of 2011 with full occupancy in spring of 2012.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is building the $37 million Nanoscale Science and Engineering Building. The three-story facility will be constructed in phases with initial occupancy in fall of 2010. The interdisciplinary research building will house technology-rich laboratories and business incubator space.

City University of New York (CUNY) broke ground on the $131 million School of Public Health at Hunter College in November of 2009. The facility will also house the Lois V. and Samuel J. Silberman School of Social Work. Additionally, CUNY is engaged in building the $59 million, 200,000-sf Advanced Science Research Center. Learn more about the Advanced Science Research Center.

The University of Cambridge opened the £10 million Alan Reece Building in November of 2009. Housing the Institute for Manufacturing, the 4,400-sm facility provides collaborative teaching and research space, an industrial design and innovation studio, and advanced manufacturing suites.

Centennial College broke ground in November of 2009 on the $46 million Library and Academic Building in Toronto. Designed by Diamond + Schmitt Architects, the four-story, 104,000-sf facility will provide a new entrance to the Progress Campus. Housing a 200-seat lecture auditorium, a library, café, a two-story atrium, classrooms, study labs, and common rooms, the building will also provide space for administrative offices and meeting rooms.