Higher Education

In this white paper, researchers from brightspot, Buro Happold, and Occuspace used anonymized data from 38 universities to help answer questions about how library, fitness, dining, and office spaces are used, and how usage patterns vary. Together, these insights can help leaders in higher education make decisions about consolidating locations, shifting stacks to study space, optimizing adjacencies among different functions on a campus, incorporating student success functions within libraries, aligning fitness and dining operations with demands, and right-sizing the workplace to align with hybrid and remote work patterns.

The University of Sheffield broke ground in November of 2023 on an £80 million aerospace manufacturing research center in the United Kingdom. Catalyzing the aviation industry’s efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the 29,700-sf Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS) building will house the Boeing-led Isothermic High-Rate Sustainable Structures (IHSS) project. This world-class innovation hub will support the development and testing of new technologies to address the demand for lighter commercial aircraft.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is constructing a 39,200-sf research facility to catalyze innovation and discovery in engineering, computing, and the sciences. Built to accommodate unknown end users, the two-story structure will offer 18 flexible laboratories that can be customized to support wet, dry, or multimodal programs. The highly adaptable project was designed by HBT Architects, now part of MRB Group. DGA Builders is acting as construction manager with occupancy anticipated in fall of 2024.

The University of Toronto broke ground on the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) in November of 2023. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and MVRDV, the five-story, 144,482-sf building will offer world-class environments for the education of the next generation of physicians, nurse practitioners, and allied health practitioners.

The Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association (SEFA) announced the winners of the Lab of the Year Award program in November of 2023. Recognizing the creation of an outstanding laboratory building or complex, the awards reflect the vital contributions of the entire project team, including the facility’s designers, engineers, contractors, material vendors, and client representatives.

Morgan State University is planning to break ground in mid-2025 on the $337 million Science and Research Complex in Baltimore. Designed by Moody Nolan in association with CannonDesign and K. Dixon Architecture, the 246,000-gsf facility will provide next-generation environments for programs in biology and chemistry.

The Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences (RKM HoS), designed as a flexible, next-generation home for the future of science at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), will enable researchers and students from across the university to interact on projects in the foundational sciences, computer sciences, machine learning, data analytics, and contemporary art.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania opened the $90 million Kopchick Hall in November of 2023 in Indiana, Pa. Featuring a state-of-the-art planetarium, the 142,536-gsf facility provides the Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics with over 51,600 sf of lab space where students can work side-by-side with faculty on shared research projects. Specialized research venues include an imaging lab, an anatomy lab, a laser lab, a circadian rhythm lab, an aquatics facility, and a vivarium.

The University of Nevada is constructing a 128,000-sf facility for the College of Business in Reno. Designed by LMN Architects, the five-story building will provide a full range of spaces tailored to best practices in modern business education. Featuring a 300-seat auditorium, the collaborative structure will house advanced technology labs, team meeting rooms, faculty and administrative offices, a café, and a student commons.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison opened a 145,000-sf expansion of the School of Veterinary Medicine in November of 2023. Designed by Flad Architects and Foil Wyatt Architects & Planners, the three-story addition connects to the original building at each level, doubling the size of the small animal hospital and tripling the space dedicated to infectious disease research. Laboratories for basic discovery are complemented by ABSL-3, BSL-3, and BSL-2 environments for working with influenza, SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, and more.

The University of California, Davis, transformed a vacant 1920s-era agricultural engineering building in need of seismic repair into a much-needed hub for graduate and post-graduate students—reinforced to be resilient and sustainable enough to be awarded LEED Platinum. 

The University of Kentucky broke ground in October of 2023 on the $380 million Health Education Building in Lexington. Representing the largest academic development in the university’s history, the 500,000-sf facility will strategically collocate programs in medicine, public health, nursing, and health sciences. Approximately 77 percent of the space will be devoted to education and training, including 25 percent for teaching labs and classrooms, and 34 percent for simulation and experiential learning.

The University of Florida opened the $150 million Malachowsky Hall for Data Science & Information Technology in Gainesville in November of 2023. Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and Walker Architects, the 263,440-sf facility is a dynamic catalyst for the application of advanced computing and artificial intelligence technologies to a broad spectrum of industries.

Harvard University celebrated the beginning of construction on the Enterprise Research Campus in November of 2023. Located in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, the mixed-use project will feature leasable lab and office facilities surrounded by inviting public spaces, pedestrian walkways, restaurants, and retail amenities. The nine-acre development is strategically sited next to the Science and Engineering Complex and the Harvard Business School to further enhance the university’s thriving innovation ecosystem.

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) broke ground on the $131 million Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Careers Building in October of 2023. Designed by Gensler and Overland Partners, the 180,000-sf facility will accommodate applied education courses in business, engineering, and the sciences. Immersive learning venues will equip students with the crucial skills required by local employers, who are actively partnering with UTSA to create job training and internship opportunities.