Higher Education

The University of New York State at Albany will use the proceeds from the sale of  $3.2 million in bonds to initiate site work on its $45-million cancer research center.

Arizona State University’s ASU Research Park in Phoenix will be the home of the Army Flexible Display Center, a government-industry collaboration center for the research, development, and manufacture of multi-functional display technology. The 250,000-sf building previously accommodated Motorola’s flat panel display R&D operations.

Nova Southeastern University has relocated from Winter Park to a 60,000-sf building sited on ten acres at Millenia Center in south Orlando, Fla. The 3-story facility features a 900-seat lecture hall, a 300-seat meeting facility, a large conference center, multiple computer labs, and more than 700 parking spaces. Enabling Nova Southeastern to expand its Orlando programs, the $12-million building will accommodate more than 1,100 students in 38 classrooms. The grand opening was celebrated on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004.

Construction has begun on two new buildings on the University of Arizona, Tucson campus: the Institute for Biomedical Science and Biotechnology (IBSB) and the Medical Research Building (MRB). Designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, both facilities are comprised of four levels of highly flexible research, office, and support spaces with a connection to a below-ground vivarium. A physical link, inside and out, will facilitate collaboration among multidisciplined sciences. The buildings will frame a central courtyard envisioned as the social heart of the new research community.

Oregon State University will complete the first phase of expansion of its College of Veterinary Medicine in fall of 2004, adding a small animal hospital to Magruder Hall. The entire veterinary medicine program will be brought to Corvallis from where it was previously taught at Washington State University’s Pullman campus. The second $10-million expansion phase will add 33,000 sf to Magruder Hall’s large animal hospital.

The University of Wisconsin Medical School has contracted Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum to design a $265-million Interdisciplinary Research Complex on the school’s Madison campus. The first $135-million phase of the project consists of 437,600 sf of laboratory, vivarium, imaging, and gross anatomy space and is slated for occupancy in 2008. The facility will accommodate interdisciplinary health science research and promote lab-to-clinic research. Zimmerman Design Group of Milwaukee is also on the project team.    

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is planning a new $22.5-million student housing complex. Comprised of 315 apartment units, the project is slated for completion in August 2005. Additionally, a $9.45-million parking garage will be constructed at UT San Antonio; completion is scheduled for March 2005.

Albany College of Pharmacy has purchased a 56,000-sf building in Albany, N.Y., for three million dollars. Formerly a senior residence owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, the facility will accommodate student housing and offices for admissions and financial aid. The building is sited near The Charitable Leadership Foundation’s $60 million, 150,000-sf Center for Medical Science where the College of Pharmacy has additional operations.

UC Davis is partnering with Sierra Nevada College to create the $24-million Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences in Incline Village, Nev. The facility will be created in cooperation with the Desert Research Institute and the RAND Corp. and will accommodate science and teaching on the preservation of alpine lakes. Housing a 300-person conference center, laboratories and classrooms for Sierra Nevada College, and offices and laboratories for the UC Davis Tahoe Research Group and the Desert Research Institute, the center will incorporate environmentally friendly building practices.

University of Califormia San Diego Medical Center has expanded its emergency department and triage area in by 5,500 sf. The $2.7-million expansion includes two new treatment rooms, a registration area, a paramedic’s room, and a family waiting room. The project was designed by Moon Mayoras Architects and built by Roel Construction Co.

Bishop State Community College is planning a $10-million business and technology center on its Mobile, Ala., campus. Housing the college’s business, economics, adult education, and economic development divisions, the 50,000-sf facility will feature classrooms, 11 computer labs, videoconferencing capabilities, a satellite downlink, an amphitheater, a wireless technology equipped auditorium, a bell tower, and a three-deck parking garage. The project team is comprised of Mobile, Ala.-based firms Volkert & Associates as architect and Rod Cooke Construction as general contractor.

Los Angeles City College has selected The Steinberg Group to design its new $13.7-million Martin Luther King Library. Slated for completion in 2005, the 64,000-gsf facility will house the existing Learning Skills Center, the All Campus Computer Lab, and learning disabilities and classroom study areas. The library will serve as the new gateway to the campus with plazas to the south and east. It will be constructed on the site currently accommodating the men’s gymnasium.

The University of South Alabama has completed the first phase of its $9.3-million Research and Technology Park in Mobile, Ala. The project entailed construction of a 75,000-sf office facility for software and technology company Mentor Graphics Corp. The project team includes KPS Group of Birmingham as architect and Doster Construction Co. as construction manager.

The University of Kansas and Union Station are collaborating to develop a 2,000-sf fossil-preparation laboratory at the 68,000-sf Science City. The renovation will include expanded space for educational exhibits and is slated for completion by year-end 2004. University of Kansas paleontologists will work in the lab that will feature the fossils of a camarasaurus dinosaur.

Auburn University has awarded Brice Building Co. of Birmingham the $18 million contract to develop two new projects on its Auburn, Ala., campus. The historic Ross Hall will be renovated and expanded to accommodate the mechanical and chemical engineering departments. Brice will also manage construction of the new 50,000-sf Harrison School of Pharmacy, W.W. Walker building, and modifications to the existing structure. Completion of both projects is expected in late 2005.