Higher Education

Multi-disciplinary project-based learning has changed how and where student activities occur, and institutions have responded by creating novel labs, teaching facilities, gathering areas, and maker spaces designed for students and faculty across diverse disciplines—engineering, life sciences, and liberal arts. A number of projects throughout the country highlight important design considerations—including location, flexibility, adaptability, and transparency—that suit new ways of learning and provide universities with opportunities for marketing and recruitment. Post-occupancy data from the University of North Carolina provides real-world findings that can help others improve the design of current and future maker spaces.

The University of Colorado Boulder opened the $101 million Aerospace Engineering Sciences Building in August of 2019. Designed by HCM (Hord Coplan Macht) and RATIO Architects, the collaborative 178,294-sf facility provides bioastronautics labs, high bay spaces, workshops, fabrication suites, interactive classrooms, faculty offices, a 200-seat auditorium, and an indoor flight environment for unmanned aircraft.

Temple University opened the $175.8 million Charles Library in August of 2019 in Philadelphia. Designed by Snøhetta and Stantec, the 220,000-sf facility features an automated storage retrieval system (ASRS) to access the 2.5 million volumes stored in the building. To encourage interaction and collaboration among students and faculty, the library includes an expansive three-story atrium, a café, and a zone that is open 24 hours a day.

Augusta University broke ground in August of 2019 on the $70 million College of Science and Mathematics in Augusta, Ga. Designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative, the 125,000-sf facility will provide teaching and research labs, offices, conference rooms, breakout spaces, student gathering and study areas, and a tutorial center. The interdisciplinary building is strategically sited on Augusta's Health Sciences Campus to provide opportunities for undergraduate research and promote collaboration.

Indiana State University opened the College of Health and Human Services in August of 2019 in Terre Haute, Ind. Collocating programs in nursing, social work, applied health science, and kinesiology and sports medicine, the collaborative 185,000-sf complex offers leading-edge facilities for education, training, and research. The first phase of the project was completed in 2018 and included construction of a four-story, 85,000-sf addition housing classrooms and offices.

The University of Strathclyde is working with government and industry partners to create the £65 million National Manufacturing Institute Scotland in Inchinnan. The 124,000-sf facility will house the Digital Factory 2050, the Manufacturing Skills Academy, the Innovation Collaboratory, and a business forum.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham opened the $39 million University Hall in August of 2019. Designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood, the 109,110-sf facility offers leading-edge learning environments for the College of Arts & Sciences. The two-wing structure houses the departments of anthropology, computer and information sciences, English, foreign languages and literatures, mathematics, philosophy, and social work. The technology-rich building provides spacious classrooms, a 300-seat auditorium, performance areas, and administrative offices.

St. Louis Community College opened the $39 million Center for Nursing & Health Sciences in August of 2019 in St. Louis. Designed by KAI Design & Build, the four-story, 96,000-sf facility offers teaching labs, classrooms, flexible learning spaces, and a dental clinic. Accommodating 11 health programs, the center will serve approximately 900 students and is expected to attain LEED Gold sustainable design certification.

Gonzaga University will begin construction in fall of 2019 on the $56 million Integrated Science and Engineering Building in Spokane, Wash. Designed by SRG Architects in association with Integrus, the collaborative 82,679-sf facility will physically connect to the PACCAR Center for Applied Science and Hughes Hall to create a campus nexus for STEM education.

The new Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences (EIS) complex at San Diego State University (SDSU) was developed to create a modern hub of STEM-focused lab facilities that will enhance the university’s reputation as a leading research institution capable of attracting top researchers and students in a variety of disciplines. The multi-wing complex includes seven engineering teaching labs and 17 interdisciplinary research spaces focused on wireless technologies, energy, and bio-medical engineering, as well as viromics (viral metagenomics)—the study of virus gene sequencing and virus protein structures—which was pioneered by researchers at SDSU. In addition to providing a shared research core, the facility houses an MRI suite and a future materials science imaging center. The complex will focus on everything from developing artificial limbs and wearable health sensors to improving drone technology and finding better ways to screen for harmful microbes. A collocated entrepreneurship center with product and business development support will help bring new technologies and products to market.

The Texas A&M University System is partnering with the U.S. Army to create the $130 million Bush Combat Development Complex in Bryan. Located on the RELLIS campus, the project will include the construction of a $50 million facility housing labs, offices, and accelerator space to support combat development and testing operations.

The University of Minnesota Duluth opened the $44.6 million Heikkila Chemistry and Advanced Materials Science Building in August of 2019. Designed by BWBR Architects to put science on display, the three-story, 56,100-gsf facility provides 12 chemistry research labs, five teaching labs, 11 collaboration areas, 22 faculty offices, and five graduate student work rooms. The Advanced Materials Center offers tools and training suites to support programs in 3D printing and microelectronics.

High Point University is building the $120 million Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Hotel in High Point, N.C. The project includes an arena offering 4,500 seats as well as staff offices, locker rooms, a media suite, a press conference room, concession stands, and athletic training facilities. Accommodating up to 2,500 visitors, the Conference Center will provide space for growing undergraduate and graduate programs, student groups, and community organizations.

The University of North Georgia is planning to build the $30 million Cottrell Center for Business, Technology and Innovation in Dahlonega. The 91,000-sf interdisciplinary facility will accommodate programs in computer science, cybersecurity, information systems, computer forensics, and data visualization and analytics.

The University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory opened the Square Kilometre Array Global Headquarters in July of 2019 in Macclesfield in the United Kingdom. Designed by Hassell to support collaborative research in radio astronomy, the 45,200-sf facility will act as a global nexus for astrophysics, accommodating over 1,000 investigators from 16 countries.