Higher Education

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum designed by HOK Inc. is now under construction. Ground was broken on February 12 on the Springfield, Ill., facility which replaces the existing library currently housed in the basement of the Old State Capitol building. Creating a comprehensive public experience featuring the life of Abraham Lincoln, the 99,600-sf library will serve as the archival facility to preserve and protect the collection of books and documents on the legends of Lincoln.

Harvard University is building an apartment style, 360-bed graduate student housing facility in Allston, Mass. The $85 million project, developed by Bond Bros. Inc., features a 15-story tower.

McCarthy Building Companies Inc. has completed the first phase of construction on the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the first nationally accredited maritime museum in the Northwest. Located in Astoria, Ore., the museum remained open during the 11-month construction project targeted for completion in October 2001. Phase I involved a 2,500-sf expansion and a 15,000-sf renovation providing space for an updated library, a state-of-the-art archive facility and new office space.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute's 72,000-sf campus center was completed by Cutler Associates, a design-build firm based in Worcester. Boston-based Shepley, Bullfinch, Richardson and Abbott designed the project.

Harvard Medical School is building a 430,000-sf research facility in Boston. Developed by William A. Berry & Son, Inc., the $250 million project includes a 196,000-sf parking garage and will by used by Harvard Medical School and collaborative tenants.  

The University of Pennsylvania is planning to build a new three to five-story, 1,000-student dorm in addition to renovation of 12 existing dorms. The $250 million project, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox of New York, involves internal restructuring of the residential high rises, creating more social and common space. Stouffler Triangle, an existing dorm and dining building, will be demolished by 2001 as a site for a new dining facility.

Notre Dame High School is building Manley Hall, a $14 million, 34,000-sf facility with fiber-optic technology housing physics, chemistry, biology and computer labs, classrooms, administrative space, and a library. Located in downtown San Jose, the all-female college-preparatory high school has selected general contractor Blach Construction of Santa Clara, Ca., and architects Anderson-Brule of San Jose. The building is slated for completion by 2002.  

Emmanuel College in Boston has partnered with Merck & Co. Inc. on a planned 300,000-sf research center. The Merck-owned facility on Emmanuel's 16-acre campus will foster a relationship between the college's biology students and Merck.   

Emerson College is planning several new developments, including a new residence hall and college center housing additional athletic and student activity space. Adjacent to the Majestic Theatre, Emerson has planned a $30 million, 11-story performance and production center containing offices, classrooms, laboratories, a television studio, an exhibition area, two small theaters, and dressing rooms for the Majestic, which will also be renovated.  

Boston College is undertaking several campus projects, including a $90 million renovation of the Higgins Science Building estimated to reach completion in fall of 2002. Construction has begun on a $36 million, 156,000-sf office facility on the lower campus, with plans for a $120 million development of three interconnected buildings (housing classrooms, offices, student services, and an auditorium) to follow.

George Mason University is planning several additions by 2007 to its 124-acre Prince William campus located in the Innovation @ Prince William Technology Park in Manassas, Va. Focussing on academic research in computer and information technology, plans include a new research/classroom facility as well as additional research space via industry partnerships. An arts center will be built as a joint venture of GMU, Prince William County and the City of Manassas.  

The 58,000-sf International Spy Museum is under construction in Washington in a building that formerly housed the Communist Party of the United States. The first of its kind in the nation, the two-floor espionage museum is being developed by The Malrite Co. and is due to open in spring of 2002. In addition to retail outlets and a spy-themed restaurant, the museum will house an Enigma machine, a pioneering World War II encryption device.

Community Education Partners Inc. has purchased a 167,000-sf structure in Philadelphia to convert into a modern educational facility housing approximately 1500 students. Purchased for $3.5 million from yarn maker and spinner Coren-Indik Inc., the former manufacturing facility and adjacent land is slated for an $18-million to $20-million renovation.

The University of Pennsylvania Riverview Campus master plan has been completed by Cambridge, Mass.-based Tsoi/Kobus & Associates. The 20-acre Philadelphia Civic Center site will be transformed into a mixed-use healthcare and research center serving the needs of the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania.

The Paul D. Coverdell Building at the University of Georgia will house the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, which will focus on public health, molecular medicine, and infectious disease and immunity. This new research institute will connect UGA researchers with similar interests as well as generating biomedical research funding. As an educational and administrative structure, the Institute will develop interdisciplinary graduate programs in biomedical and health sciences, strengthen existing programs, and expand into new research areas.