Higher Education

Sam Houston State University broke ground on the $38.5 million Performing Arts Center in Huntsville, Texas, on October 2, 2008. The 91,976-sf facility will feature an 800-seat concert hall, a 150-seat recital hall, an outdoor performance area, and practice and rehearsal rooms. Occupancy is expected in fall of 2010. The facility was designed by Watkins, Hamilton, Ross Architects of Houston and is being built by SpawGlass Construction, also of Houston.

Washington University dedicated the Harry and Susan Seigle Hall in St. Louis on September 25, 2008. The four-story, 145,736-sf building is located on the University’s Danforth Campus and houses 139 offices, 15 classrooms, and conference rooms. The interdisciplinary facility provides teaching, research, and meeting space for the School of Law and the departments of Economics, Education, and Political Science. The project was designed by Kallman McKinnell & Wood of Boston and constructed by Tarlton Corp. of St. Louis.

Purdue University dedicated the $25 million Martin C. Jischke Biomedical Engineering Building in West Lafayette, Ind., on September 30, 2008. Created in partnership with the state of Indiana, the building houses the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. The four-story facility features biomedical R&D laboratories and instructional facilities. Designed to support industry partnerships with medical device and biotechnology companies, the 91,000-sf interdisciplinary project includes core labs, teaching labs, faculty offices, classrooms, and meeting space.

Tsinghua University is partnering with semiconductor manufacturer Rohm Co. to build the Tsinghua-Rohm Electronic Engineering Hall in Beijing, China. Designed to support collaborative development of electronic devices, the ¥2 billion R&D facility is slated for completion in April of 2011. The project will house an international exchange center for academic-industry partnerships, cleanrooms, shared research space, and a 300-seat auditorium.

Richard Stockton College opened its new $40 million dormitory complex in Pomona, N.J., in September of 2008. Comprised of six three-story buildings, the 165,000-sf project was designed by RMJM Hillier and can accommodate a total of 390 students. The general contractor was Skanska USA Building. Each 27,500-sf building includes sustainable design features such energy efficient lighting, rainwater retention structures, geothermal well heating and cooling, and low-VOC interior finishes.

The University of Colorado Denver opened the $204 million Research 2 (R2) laboratory in Aurora in September of 2008. The 507,000-gsf facility is located on the Anschutz Medical Campus and houses flexible research laboratories and offices. Construction was completed in June of 2008. The 12-story building supports clinical and basic science research with laboratory configurations ranging from wet bench to instrument-oriented facilities. A full complement of research support spaces and core labs are designed to foster interaction and communication.

St. Thomas University opened its $10.3 million undergraduate science facility in Miami Garden, Fla., in September of 2008. The 26,000-sf life science building provides 14 research labs, eight teaching labs, and classrooms.

Florida State University dedicated the $55.8 million James E. King Jr. Life Sciences Teaching & Research Center in Tallahassee on September 12, 2008. The 181,000-sf facility was built by LLT Building Corp. and is expected to attain LEED sustainable design certification. Housing teaching and research space for FSU's Department of Biological Science, the project was designed by Elliott Marshall Innes of Tallahassee with Lord, Aeck & Sargent as architect of record.

Towson University is building a new College of Liberal Arts complex in Towson, Md. The academic facility will house technology-rich classrooms, lecture halls, seminar rooms, faculty offices, and basement space. The construction manager is The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. The first phase of the project will include 110,000 sf and is slated for completion by fall of 2009. The second phase will add another 250,000 sf and will reach completion in summer of 2011. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

Pennsylvania State University is planning to construct the 275,600-sf Millennium Science Complex in University Park, Pa. Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the interdisciplinary, collaborative facility will house research laboratories and offices for the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the Materials Research Institute. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the project, which will incorporate green roofs and storm water management.

East Stroudsburg University opened the $41 million Science and Technology Center in East Stroudsburg, Pa., in September of 2008. The facility will provide space for instruction in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics. Designed to foster interdisciplinary interaction, the 124,000-sf building houses 17 teaching labs, nine research labs, nine classrooms, a 200-seat auditorium, a museum of natural history, and a planetarium and rooftop observatory.

The University of California, Irvine completed the 482,428-sf University Hospital academic medical center in Orange, Calif., in September of 2008. The $375 million hospital provides 191 beds as well as research and training facilities for the UCI School of Medicine.

McGill University opened the $73 million Life Sciences Complex (LSC) in Montreal, Quebec, on September 24, 2008. The project is comprised of the Francesco Bellini Life Sciences Building and the Cancer Research Building. The interdisciplinary research complex will accommodate 60 scientists from McGill's Faculties of Science and Medicine and McGill University Health Centre. Research will focus on five biomedical areas: chemical biology, cancer, genetics of complex traits, cell information transfer systems, and developmental and reproductive biology.

Queensland University of Technology opened the $10.7 million Medical Engineering and Research Facility at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane in September of 2008. The translational research facility will support collaboration between medical specialists and biomedical researchers in areas such as orthopaedic medicine, critical care, and artificial organs. Enabling surgeons and researchers to develop new methods and technologies on donor bodies, the project will foster biomedical innovation as well as providing medical training for healthcare professionals.

Nottingham Trent University completed the £1.4 million Anthony Nolan Trust Cord Blood Centre at its Clifton campus in Nottingham in September of 2008. The combined blood bank and research center was built by Clean Modules Ltd and includes cleanroom facilities for processing and cryogenic storage. The project meets EU GMP and GLP regulations and will house stem cell donations from umbilical cords and placentas for disease treatment and research.