Higher Education

Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions and Payton Construction Corp. of Boston recently completed the conversion and renovation of Building 36 in Charlestown. The 72,000-sf renovation of the former Massachusetts Water Resources Authority building was delivered in three phases. The new facility will provide 20% more student lounge and study space, 30% more lab space, and 40% more classroom space than the Institute's previous Boston location.

Campbell University is relocating its Research Triangle Park campus, formerly located at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, to 21,000 sf in the Southport Business Park near RTP in Morrisville. The new campus, named Research Triangle Park Center, includes a 10-year lease of 14 classrooms in the Windsor Building.

The Burlington County Institute of Technology (BCIT) is planning phase two of its Medford Campus development. The $19-million, 91,000-sf project involves 65,900-sf of additions including a new gym, auditorium, auto shop and television studio. Slated for completion in July 2005, the project is being designed by Design Collaborative of Cape May Court House, N.J.

The Burlington County Institute of Technology (BCIT) is planning a $25-million, 136,600-sf expansion and renovation of its Westhampton Campus. Slated for completion in January of 2004, the project is being designed by Cape May Courthouse, N.J.-based architect the Design Collaborative. Additions totalling 72,900-sf will include a new gym and three classrooms. A total of 63,400 sf will be renovated, upgrading existing classrooms, athletic fields, the cafeteria, and other school areas, as well as several office and classroom relocations.

Technology High School at McKinley's 300,000-sf, $40-million renovation will be delivered by general contractor James G. Davis Construction of Rockville with joint venture partner HRGM. The public/private partnership on the project resulted in $20 million in city-allocated funds with private fund-raising to match, resulting in office space for technology companies also being located on the campus.

The University of Maryland has selected the Baltimore office of Cannon Design to design a 200,000-sf educational center at its Shady Grove Campus. Computer classrooms, laboratories, and administrative and faculty offices will be housed at the new center.

Texas Tech University System has selected Detroit-based SmithGroup to provide programming, design architecture, engineering, and master planning services for a new Health Sciences Center Research Facility in El Paso. The facility, scheduled for completion in December of 2005, is the first building of a planned four-year medical school and new regional Health Sciences Center Campus for the Texas Tech University System.

Baylor University broke ground on the new 500,000-sf Baylor Sciences Building on May 17, 2002. The $103-million facility will consolidate departments currently located within the University's science buildings. Comprised of three wings, the four-story structure will house life sciences, physical sciences, and five multidisciplinary research/education centers. It will feature 90 research labs, 80 teaching labs, 187 faculty offices, 48 shared suites, and 6 departmental suites.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, Behring Center, has selected the New York-based architecture firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to launch the museum's renovation of its 38-year-old building. The project will improve visitor circulation and navigation, increase exhibition space, and update and improve public facilities, such as restrooms, restaurants and other amenities.

Top priorities under the contract include:

Lafayette College of Lehigh Valley, Pa., has selected Boston-based Cannon Design to develop a varsity athletic facilities master plan. Lafayette's 80,000-sf Kirby Field House addition was recently planned and programmed by Cannon. The Kirby addition features a three-court gymnasium, fitness/running room, elevated running track, multipurpose rooms, racquetball and squash courts, a climbing wall and full support facilities.

Temple University of Philadelphia is relieving its shortage of student housing with the renovation of the old Kardon building to create a 187-unit apartment complex. Part of a campus plan formed in 1998, the 473,000-sf, eight-story building will be converted over the summer and will house students in the fall. The $24-million apartment complex will support 425 residents in one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 900- to 1,500-sf. Although three floors are slated for freshman students, the remainder of the apartment complex is open to non-university renters.

The University of Maryland has broken ground on its $124-million, 360,000-sf Baltimore dental school. The building is slated for occupancy in 2005.

Indiana University has selected Flad & Associates to design a new 142,000-sf multidisciplinary science facility for their Bloomington campus. The new scientific research building, currently in the early stages of programming, will bring together several areas of science into one facility. The space will be designed to support the full spectrum of sciences including biology, chemistry, cognitive science, physics and biochemistry.

Dean College dedicated the new Robert F. Lucey Center for Technology & Training in February 2002. Formerly an under-utilized library study space, the Center contains a multimedia instructor teaching station and two classrooms each housing 20 fully loaded student computers.  Featuring the latest technology, the Lucey Center is designed to provide Dean's 900 students with the training and technical education in demand by local employers. Faculty will begin using the Center in fall of 2002.

Stanford University is planning to build a state-of-the-art book storage facility on 5.8 acres recently purchased in the National Business Park in Livermore.