Higher Education

Tufts University is building the $90 million Joyce Cummings Center in Medford, Mass. Providing classrooms, auditoria, research labs, and collaboration spaces, the 148,000-gsf facility will accommodate programs in computer science, economics, and mathematics. Offering six stories and a basement level, the building will house the Data Intensive Studies Center, the Fletcher Executive Education and Global Master of Arts program, and the Tufts Gordon Institute.

Arizona State University broke ground in October of 2019 on a new headquarters for the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix. The $67 million facility will feature an open design that integrates learning environments, meeting rooms, study areas, offices, and a large event space. The five-story, 112,000-sf building will house the Global Forum, an interactive venue that will allow international presenters to address and engage with students via remote access.

Most academic science buildings constructed in the mid-20th century were not designed to support the interdisciplinary, collaborative, and entrepreneurial dynamics of modern engineering teaching and research that occupy these buildings today. While motivations for renovation can range from the need to update outdated building systems, to the desire to improve the school’s ability to recruit new talent and donors, most major renewal projects share similar challenges of aging infrastructure, complex logistics, and phased implementation. Using examples from recent renovations at Cornell University, Ohio State University, and the University of Massachusetts, principals from Perkins+Will share how these and other challenges can be addressed.

Rowan University and Rutgers University opened the $70 million Joint Health Sciences Center in October of 2019 in Camden, N.J. Designed by HOK to accommodate multiple institutions, the $70 million project provides leading-edge labs and learning environments to empower joint research initiatives and promote interdisciplinary collaboration.

Baldwin Wallace University broke ground in October of 2019 on the $25 million Austin E. Knowlton STEM Center in Berea, Ohio. Part of the school's strategic plan to meet the needs of growing industries for skilled graduates, the two-story, 55,000-sf project will accommodate programs in data science, artificial intelligence, mathematical modeling, cybersecurity, robotics, engineering, and physics.

Purdue University will begin construction in spring of 2020 on the $108 million Veterinary Teaching Hospital in West Lafayette, Ind. Accommodating equine, small animal, and farm animal patients, the 175,290-gsf facility will support translational research programs to enable the development of new therapeutics and technologies that may have applications for human health.

Dartmouth College began construction in October of 2019 on the $100 million Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society in Hanover, N.H. Designed by Goody Clancy to promote an integrated approach to problem solving, the 55,000-gsf facility will accommodate programs in engineering, environmental studies, geopolitics, business, and economics. The three-story structure will be physically connected to Murdough Hall by an atrium, creating a natural point of convergence for faculty and students from across campus to collaborate on energy-related projects.

The University of New Mexico completed construction of the $67 million Physics, Astronomy, and Interdisciplinary Science Center in Albuquerque in October of 2019. Designed by EYP Architecture & Engineering and Van H. Gilbert, the 139,100-gsf facility houses the department of physics and astronomy as well as accommodating research programs in bioinformatics, genomics, electron microscopy, optics, spatial informatics, stable isotopes, and human and primate biomedical research.

Almost every field of endeavor has been supercharged in recent years by the advent of “big data”—the ability of computers to process and analyze large data sets to gather insights. The business of creating student spaces on campuses is no different. June Hanley and Scott Foral of HDR have used big data in several projects, and offer some wisdom on how to turn raw data into actionable results.

The University of Central Arkansas broke ground in October of 2019 on the $37.7 million Integrated Health Sciences Building in Conway. Designed by Taggart Architects, the 80,000-sf facility will provide technology-rich classrooms and collaboration spaces for the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.

The University of Rhode Island opened the $150 million Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering in September of 2019 in Kingston. Designed by Ballinger to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, the six-story, 190,000-sf facility provides three large active-learning classrooms, teaching and research labs, core instrumentation suites, two computer labs, a robotics lab, a 24/7 student maker space, and capstone project areas. The building also offers 90 faculty offices, six faculty lounges, and six conference rooms.

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville broke ground in October of 2018 on a $129 million engineering building. Designed by McCarty Holsaple McCarty with SmithGroup as laboratory planner, the 228,000-sf multidisciplinary building will provide the Tickle College of Engineering with flexible research labs, maker spaces, project rooms, collaboration areas, divisible classrooms, an atrium, and dedicated space for the department of nuclear engineering. Completion is expected in fall of 2021.

Harvey Mudd College broke ground in late September of 2019 on the $30 million McGregor Computer Science Center in Claremont, Calif. Designed by Steinberg Hart, the three-story, 36,000-sf facility will collocate the department of computer science with a campus-wide maker space to create a vibrant hub for project-based learning.

The College of Southern Maryland is building the $31 million Center for Health Sciences in Hughesville, Md. Designed by Grimm & Parker as a flexible, forward-thinking facility, the 50,000-sf building will feature specialized teaching labs for programs including nursing, emergency medical services, health information management, medical laboratory technology, medical assisting, pharmacy technician, massage therapy, and rehabilitation.

The University of Texas at Austin broke ground in October of 2019 on the $168 million Gary L. Thomas Energy Engineering Building. Designed as a hub for energy-related education, research, and innovation, the 184,300-gsf building will feature leading-edge labs and classrooms, collaboration environments, and student project spaces. The six-story multidisciplinary facility will house the Cockrell School's mechanical, chemical, and petroleum engineering programs.