Higher Education

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is planning several new academic facilities. The Ray and Maria Stata Center for Computer Information and Intelligence Sciences will unite computer science and electrical engineering programs in a 447,000-sf building scheduled for completion in 2004. The Dreyfus Building, housing the chemistry department, will be gutted and renovated by 2003. Student housing for about 1,000 students will be provided in two new dorms. The 130,000-sf Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center is scheduled to open in 2002.

Strayer University has plans to expand and relocate its 1,200-student Arlington campus to a planned three-story building located on top of the Court House Metro station. The university will occupy the top two floors (30,000 sf) of the 54,000-sf building. The project, which is set to open in fall of 2002, is under development by the Arlington-based Jenco Group. Construction is expected to get under way in fall 2001.

George Mason University Foundation has received approval for construction of a seven-story office building with a six-story, underground parking structure in Virginia Square. The $60 million project will sit on nearly two acres and provide 192,500-sf for office space and 13,275 sf of retail space on the building’s first floor. Above- and below-ground parking will accommodate 671 vehicles. The foundation uses private tenant lease money for acquisition and construction costs, selling or donating the building to the university when the project has been paid for.

ARAMARK today announced that it has completed the acquisition of ServiceMaster Management Services, the facility services business of ServiceMaster.

Swarthmore College is planning a $50 million expansion designed by Einhorn Yaffee Prescott of Boston and built by contractor Barclay White Skanska USA Inc. of Blue Bell, Pa. $40 million will be spent on a total of 140,000 sf in additions and renovations to Science Complex buildings. The project involves construction of a new 70,000-sf facility and renovation of 70,000 sf in two existing buildings. The project began in June 2001 and is slated for completion in June of 2004.  

The University of California-Davis, the world leader in wine science, will be spending $25 million of a $35 million grant to build the new Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. Replacing buildings 50 years old, the institute will house classrooms, food processing and winery buildings. The remaining $10 million will fund a theater complex already under construction, to be named the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. The center is slated for completion in October 2002.

Ground was broken on the new 60,000-sf City Museum at Carnegie Library, a museum dedicated to chronicling the history of the District of Columbia. Designed by architects Devrouax & Purnell of Washington, the museum is scheduled to open in spring of 2003. Also on the project team is New York-based RKK&G Museum and Cultural Facilities Consultants, working with GSM Design of Montreal to create the museum's exhibits.

The University of the Incarnate Word is expanding with a new building providing student housing, conference facilities, a bookstore and a parking garage. The first phase of the 150,000-sf facility is being funded by a $9 million bond issue and is currently under contract.

Northwest Vista College is planning a new 30,000-sf Advanced Technology Center to house the college's Corporate and Community Development Department. The two-story facility will also house academic functions, providing a biotechnology lab, 5 computer labs and 8 classrooms.

Massachusetts College of Art's new nine-story, 123,000-sf residence hall was initiated by a topping-off ceremony held by Corjen Construction LLC of Boston. The facility is slated for completion in July of 2002 and will house apartment suites for 306 students.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston has renovated the Center for Environmental Health to create 15,000 sf of lab and office space. At the Center for Space Research, 18,600 sf was demolished and renovated. Both projects were completed by Shawmut Design and Construction of Boston.

San Diego State University's Cuicacalli Residential Suites and Dining Complex was recently completed by San Diego-based Douglas E. Barnhart and design-build partner Mosher Drew Watson & Ferguson of Point Loma, Calif.. The two 6-story residential towers were built at a project cost of $33.6 million. The development consists of 250,000 sf of living, dining and support facilities.

Emerson College of Boston has selected Cambridge-based Stubbins Associates to design a new College Center and Residence on a recently purchased 14,900-sf parcel.

 Stanford University is building the James H. Clark Center for Biomedical Engineering Sciences, a 225,000-sf bio-science research facility slated for occupancy in 2003. Promoting the Stanford interdisciplinary initiative called Bio-X, Clark Center will house 50 faculty from biosciences, physical sciences and engineering.

Emory University School of Medicine is planning a $15 million faculty and education building on the Grady Memorial Hospital campus. The facility is slated for completion at the end of 2003.