Higher Education

The University of Florida has recently completed a modular research complex of BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory space. Buildings for Science, a division of Britz-Heidbrink, completed the design, production, and installation of this world-class research facility in less than one year. The complex has its own mechanical room area, an office-break area, a unisex bathroom/change area, a pass-through shower into the BSL-3 lab with accommodating locker space, and two separate procedure areas.

Heritage Harbor Museum has selected Westwood-based StrategIT to design the IT infrastructure for its planned Providence facility in Rhode Island. The 250,000-sf museum, created by a consortium of 19 cultural and historical organizations, will house exhibit space, offices, collections, and library documents and books. Slated for completion in December 2005, the museum will be the first Smithsonian Institution affiliate in New England.

The city of St. Paul will develop a 125,500-sf office warehouse facility on 11 acres near the University of Minnesota as a biotech incubator. The facility will be sold to University Enterprise Laboratories, a university nonprofit created to develop the incubator.

Wingate University, a private North Carolina university, is engaged in several expansion and renovation projects. The Cannon academic building has been upfitted with labs, study rooms, a drug information center, lecture halls, and a student lounge. It will house the new Wingate University School of Pharmacy. The upstairs of the football field house is being converted to office and meeting rooms; completion is expected in August 2003. Renovations to Faculty Drive apartments will be completed this July.

Oregon Health & Science University has received $2.5-million of federal research funding to establish a National Center for Research on Bioterrorism Agents in Portland, Ore. Studying issues important to combating bioterrorism, the center will accommodate over 20 OHSU faculty members focused on disease research. A comprehensive database of pathogens will be developed to create more effective methods of vaccination against a bioterrorist attack.

Queens University of Charlotte, N.C., is planning to construct a $12-million, multi-sport athletic complex on 59 acres at Marion Diehl Park. The facilities will include soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and softball fields, a field house, trails, and track and tennis facilities. The complex will become the home of 11 of  Queens’ 16 varsity sports.

The University of California, Davis, has completed the new 24,000-sf BSL3-AG Contained Research Facility, an agricultural facility focused on plant and entomological sciences. Designed by Anshen+Allen, it provides a highly secure, biologically contained environment and is the first of its kind in the United States. A “hoteling” concept provides researcher space to accommodate partnerships with universities and research foundations from around the world.

Arizona State University is constructing Phase I of the Arizona Biodesign Institute (AzBiodesign). Architectural firms Gould Evans and Lord, Aeck & Sargent planned, designed, and are now overseeing construction for the facility, which will house interdisciplinary research in biotechnology, information technology, and nanotechnology. The first 172,000-sf, $69-million phase of AzBiodesign will feature a flexible open lab concept allowing for rapid module reconfiguration to respond to the changing nature of research programs.

BaylorUniversity has selected McCarthy to develop its new 360,000-sf design/build parking structure. The $9.9-million project is McCarthy’s second for Baylor and will extend the Waco campus’ eastern boundary. The 1,170-car, four-level facility will break ground in August 2003 and is slated for completion in August 2004. The architectural and engineering firm for the east campus parking facility is Carl Walker, Inc. of Dallas.  

The Oregon Health & Science University is planning phase one of the institute’s development in North Macadam, Ore. Site work has already begun for the first 360,000-sf building.  The project is estimated to cost $108-million.

Jacksonville University will build a new $1-million, 10,000-sf Navy ROTC facility on its Jacksonville, Fla., Campus. Housing classrooms, offices, study space, multimedia equipment, simulation equipment, and fitness and training facilities, the project will replace an existing 30-year-old facility.

Mesa College has completed construction of the new 45,748-sf Humanities, Languages, and Multicultural Studies building on its Linda Vista campus. Designed by Architects Delawie Wilkes Rodriques Barker, the $7.4-million project was built by Kvaas Constructors.

The University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute is working with the National Institute of Standards & Technology to develop a planned expansion of the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology called CARB II. The 140,000-sf, $38-million project will host new laboratories, core facilities, and training programs for the biotech work force and will cost $50-million to build. CARB I is an 88,000-sf building sited on six acres at the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center in Rockville, Md.

The University of California Merced is working with contractor McCarthy to construct a 92,000-sf classroom and office building, one of the first three academic buildings scheduled to open in 2004. The first American research university to be built in the 21st century, the school is being built with the latest sustainable techniques to attain a campus-wide silver certification in LEED building standards through the U.S. Green Building Council. To achieve certification, the project will maximize the use of low-emitting and recycled materials and local/regional resources during construction.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics will develop its new $6-million headquarters on 6.4 acres in Cedar Creek Corporate Park in Olathe, Mo. The architect for the 35,000-sf facility is DLR Group of Overland Park, with Ambassador Construction of Olathe as general contractor.