Higher Education

Construction of Northwestern University’s $32,250,000 Center for Nanofabrication and Self Assembly is nearing completion. Designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership of Los Angeles, the 43,800-sf Evanston campus facility will house research laboratories for the Chemistry department, analytical and laser laboratories, and office space. Contractor Turner Construction Company is joined on the project team by structural engineer Chris P. Stefanos Associates of Oak Lawn, Ill., mechanical engineer Bard, Rao + Athanas of Chicago, and civil engineer Terra Engineering of Chicago.

Northwestern University is building the The McCormick Tribune Center, a new broadcast journalism facility housing classrooms, an auditorium, faculty offices, and a broadcast studio. Designed by Einhorn Yaffee Prescott of New York, the $14-million Evanston facility is slated for completion in fall of 2002. Pepper Construction Company of Chicago is the general contractor for the project.

Biogen has opened the 1,100-sf Biogen Community Laboratory, a teaching lab located in one of the company's R&D facilities at its Cambridge headquarters. Featuring the most recent laboratory technology, the Community Laboratory will serve Cambridge public school students. 50 Cambridge Rindge and Latin School students participated in a molecular genetics class at the facility this summer.

The University of Michigan Medical School is building the new $220-million, 472,000-gsf Biomedical  Science Research Building  on its Ann Arbor campus. Containing 240 lab modules, each accommodating up to four researchers, the facility is designed to promote group interaction. Project features include an animal research facility, two levels below grade, and a 300-seat auditorium.

Camden County College is building a 320,000-sf technology center and 200,000-sf, six-story parking garage. The $20-million facility will house 37,000-sf of classrooms, a technology center, laboratories, and 13,500-sf of retail including a bookstore.

The University of California, Berkeley is planning to initiate construction on the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) in the first quarter of 2003. The $60-million, 130,000-sf facility will be sited on the engineering portion of the campus.

The University of Missouri Columbia is building a new 124,000-nsf Life Sciences Center (LSC). Construction began in December of 2001 on the $60-million project which will include a DNA research facility, five teaching/computer labs, a 250-seat auditorium, 50 research labs, technologically advanced classrooms, a greenhouse, and multipurpose equipment rooms. The facility will provide flexible space to maximize interactions and foster interdisciplinary team research.

Rutgers University is planning to expand its law school with the construction of a $20-million, 50,000-sf facility in the next three years. The building will be sited on a 2.2-acre surface parking lot adjacent to the existing 95,000-sf law school building. Rutgers is also moving to acquire Camden's Plaza Hotel to convert it into up to 250 graduate student housing apartments. The project will include ground level retail and will be launched in the next three years.

Fairfax-based Lorton Arts Foundation has submitted a proposal to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to redevelop the 41.4-acre former Lorton prison site as a community arts, education and cultural center. Centerbrook Architects of Centerbrook, Conn., designed the proposed Lorton Workhouse Arts Center, which would include galleries, event space, offices, artist studios, theatrical and production areas, heritage exhibits, and an outdoor music shed.

California State University at San Marcos has selected architectural firm Robbins Jorgensen Christopher of San Diego as master plan architects for its 304-acre campus, including $140-million in capital projects currently in design or construction. The $7.4-million, 35,000-sf Clarke Field House, now under construction, will house student meeting space, athletic facilities, and a small convenience store.  

The University of Denver has completed the design of its new College of Law building. Designed by Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott of Boston, in association with H&L Architects of Denver, the 190,000-sf facility is the nation's first certified "green" law school. The $50-million building features 40% lower energy usage than comparable new buildings and includes ultra-low-emitting wood products, paints and carpeting, a groundwater recapture-recycle system for landscaping, and bicycle and electric car refueling capabilities.

 Northwestern University began construction on the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center on its Chicago campus in March, 2002. Designed by lead architect Davis Brody Bond, LLP of New York and engineer BR+A of Boston, the 12-story building will house 9 laboratory floors with offices, a campus center on the ground floor, and two floors below grade for vivarium and mechanical rooms. Mechanical operations will also be housed on the second floor and the penthouse.

Sitework began in April on phase one of North Carolina State University's Undergraduate Science Teaching Lab (USTL) located on the main campus. 70,700 gsf of instructional chemistry and physics labs and classrooms will be constructed, as well as 40,500 sf of instructional laboratories, classrooms and greenhouses for horticultural sciences. The project, designed by Little and Associates Architects, is being built by contractor R.N. Rouse. Laboratory planner is Research Facilities Design of San Diego.

North Carolina State University is developing the 1,334-acre Centennial Campus in Raleigh, N.C., a mixed-use "technopolis" of university, corporate and government R&D facilities. With 1.3 million sf built in 16 major building modules, the Centennial Campus will also include a town center, business incubators, housing, and an executive conference center and hotel. The campus is comprised of the 1,120-acre Centennial Campus and the 214-acre Centennial Biomedical Campus.

Harvard Medical School (HMS) has outsourced all engineering and trade functions for mechanical systems maintenance to UNICCO Service Company. Supported by an onsite 24x7 call center, the staff of almost 50, including electricians, mechanics, plumbers, carpenters and locksmiths maintains all building systems, including HVAC and utilities. UNICCO also handles light construction and special projects as required. The contract calls for UNICCO to provide several advanced services including: