Higher Education

Wayne State University has completed the $20-million renovation of the Gordon Scott Hall of Basic Sciences in Detroit, Mich. As the building is the main facility for the School of Medicine's teaching, research, and administrative functions, the project included the renovation of approximately 40,000 sf of space on the building's third floor, converting it to a research laboratory, specialized lab support, and office and classroom spaces for the Center for Molecular Medicine & Genetics and the Department of Pharmacology.

The University of Arizona expanded its Tucson campus with the completion of three new research and laboratory facilities in 2006. All three were designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership of Portland, Ore. The $46.1-million, 85,000-sf Chemistry Building will consolidate chemistry teaching and research programs and is slated for completion in late spring of 2006. The project construction manager is Hensel Phelps Construction Co. The $65.7-million Thomas W.

The Hormel Institute, an independent research unit of the University of Minnesota, broke ground in August 2006 on a $20-million expansion of its Austin, Minn., facilities.

Georgia Tech broke ground on the Marcus Nanotechnology Building in Atlanta in August of 2006. With 20,000-sf of nanotechnology physical science and engineering space next to 10,000-sf of biomedical and biological nanotechnology space, the facility will accommodate scientists from the university system as well as the private sector. Completion is slated for summer of 2008.

The State University of New York (SUNY) has selected The S/L/A/M Collaborative to design three new science projects. At SUNY Buffalo, the 145,000-sf Acheson Hall will be renovated to provide a new home for the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences on the South Campus. The former chemistry building will be completely gutted and renovated to provide new classroom and biotech research space in a LEED® certified facility.

The University of Arizona has dedicated its new $48-million BIO5 Institute on its Tucson campus. Gilbane Building Company was construction manager for the 180,000-sf facility specifically designed for cross-disciplinary teams in the field of molecular life science. Gilbane's western regional office oversaw the project. The BIO5 Institute shares a block-wide development with the Medical Research Building, both designed by the Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership.

The University of Kentucky (UK) has unveiled the design for the $450-million Albert B. Chandler Hospital. Slated for completion in 2010, the new one million-sf hospital will be built by Turner Construction Company in two phases to allow for a step-by-step replacement of the existing hospital.

The University of Michigan has opened its $40-million computer science and engineering building in Ann Arbor. Designed by Diamond + Schmidt Architects of Toronto, the 100,000-sf facility houses research laboratories, two classroom auditoriums, and two computer-assisted engineering network laboratories. Featuring wireless Internet in the entire structure, the building includes a four-story staircase in a natural light-enriched atrium plus a cafe.

The University of Nevada is building the 205,000-sf Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) facility at its Las Vegas campus. Construction of the $107-million, four-story facility began in August 2005 and is expected to reach completion in spring of 2008.

West Chester University has partnered with Honeywell Building Solutions SES in a 15-year, $18.7-million building modernization and energy savings project for the school's 60-building, 402-acre Pennsylvania campus. The contract includes infrastructure upgrades such as HVAC, lighting, energy and water conservation technologies, and a centralized control system for optimal energy management. The energy savings, guaranteed by Honeywell under a performance contract, are estimated at $1.7 million annually over 15 years.

The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) is building the $85-million Natural Science and Engineering Laboratory (NS&E). Slated for completion by year-end 2006, the facility is being funded by a joint private/public effort with the University of Texas System, the Texas State government, and Texas Instruments. The new open-plan interdisciplinary laboratory will include a vivarium as well as inviting common areas intended to foster collaboration and interaction.

Ohio State University (OSU) is constructing the $151-million Biomedical Research Tower on its Columbus campus. The 400,000-sf, 14-story building will be the largest research facility on campus with 180,000 sf of laboratory space. Slated for completion in late fall of 2006, the tower will house labs for biomedical research, core labs for shared use, faculty and administrative offices, a 250-seat auditorium, seminar rooms, and a cafe.

The University of Puget Sound will dedicate Harned Hall, a $25-million science laboratory building, in Tacoma, Wa. on Sept. 29. 2006. The 51,000-sf facility is the anchor of the University's new $63-million science complex and was constructed to meet LEED™ Silver standards. Designed to foster interaction among faculty and students as well as collaboration between disciplines, the building includes laboratory spaces for biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, and physics.

California State University, Bakersfield broke ground in July 2006 on a $19 million math and computer science building. Slated for completion by the winter 2008 school term, the three-story, 54,651-sf facility will house 70 faculty offices, 15 laboratories, and seven classrooms. The project team consists of designers STUDIOS Architecture of San Francisco and general contractor S.C. Anderson of Bakersfield.

The University of Texas Health Sciences Center has been allocated $60-million in tuition revenue bonds by the State of Texas. The funds will enable the expansion of the South Texas Research Facility, accommodating additional biomedical and counter-bioterrorism research.