Higher Education

Florida Southern College broke ground in November of 2018 on the Carole and Marcus Weinstein Computer Sciences Center in Lakeland. Designed by Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker to complement existing campus buildings by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the project will accommodate new programs in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, informatics, and logistics. The facility will offer 10,000 sf of academic space, a 3,000-sf auditorium, and a food hall. The general contractor for the project is Rodda Construction.

Muskegon Community College opened the $14.1 million Health and Wellness Center in November of 2018 in Muskegon, Mich. Designed by The Collaborative, the 52,000-sf facility provides a 3,000-sf simulation training lab, classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, faculty offices, a multipurpose room, a gymnasium, an indoor track, and a fitness center.

Peking University is planning to construct a 169-acre campus for research and development in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Supporting interdisciplinary programs in computer science and engineering, the project will represents a significant expansion of Peking University's existing footprint into the Changping district. Artificial intelligence is a central theme of the country's Made in China 2025 initiative which aims to develop the knowledge and talent base to support an internationally competitive manufacturing industry.

Fairfield University has added a new residence hall to its campus, filling in the surrounding quad and providing students with modern amenities. The 65,000-sf 42 Langguth Hall houses primarily freshmen and sophomores in the Ignatian Leadership Residential College. The L-shaped facility houses 202 students—in 190 double rooms and 12 singles, plus three resident director suites. Fully accessible unisex bathrooms and showers are on floors one through three. The interior affords expansive open spaces and a spacious common area, with three floors of dorm rooms and a partial basement of supporting functions. The corner of the L is framed by a glass tower that connects to the quad and serves as a beacon.  

West Texas A&M University will begin construction in December of 2018 on two new veterinary facilities in Canyon, Texas. The $22 million Veterinary Education, Research & Outreach Center will house three BSL-2 labs, a multipurpose teaching lab, a large partitionable classroom, offices, a student commons, and a graduate student bullpen. Offering 22,564 net assignable square feet, the building will include shell space for additional teaching, research, and instructional facilities.

Harvey Mudd College will begin construction in 2019 on the $30 million McGregor Computer Science Center. The three-story, 36,000-sf facility will provide teaching and research labs, faculty offices, clinic and project studios, robotics labs, a leading-edge AV production suite, conference rooms, and collaboration areas. The building will also include a maker space with sophisticated equipment including laser cutters and 3D printers. The repositioned Libra Complex, which currently houses engineering machine shops, will be linked to the new center.

The University of California, Santa Barbara began construction on the $56 million Henley Hall in October of 2018. Housing the Institute for Energy Efficiency, the three-story, 49,000-gsf facility will provide 17 labs, faculty and administrative offices, a 125-seat lecture hall, conference rooms, and an atrium. Designed by KieranTimberlake to be as close to zero-net energy as possible, the project will incorporate advanced building systems and numerous sustainable technologies.

Skidmore College broke ground in October of 2018 on the $100 million Center for Integrated Sciences in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Collocating the school's ten science departments in a single location, the 200,000-sf interdisciplinary project will accommodate programs in biology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience, psychology, geoscience, environmental science, mathematics, computer science, and health and exercise science.

Morgan Advanced Materials opened the Carbon Science Centre of Excellence in November of 2018 in University Park, Pa. Located in Penn State's Innovation Park, the 30,000-sf building offers flexible laboratories, offices, and light assembly suites for collaborative research with academic and industry partners. The facility will support the development of innovative materials science technologies and applications, including the creation of electrified rail products for sustainable public transportation.

Rutgers University dedicated the $84 million Richard N. Weeks Hall of Engineering in October of 2018 in Piscataway, N.J. Designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative, the four-story, 106,000-sf facility provides smart classrooms, two lecture halls, offices, conference rooms, and areas for study and informal interaction.

Gannon University is planning a cybersecurity research and teaching building in Erie, Pa. The $20 million project includes the renovation of Knight Tower to create a leading-edge computer science facility offering classrooms, a secure data center, and labs for the study of defense, hacking, and internet devices. Housing the Institute of Health and Cyber Knowledge, the six-story IHACK building will support the school's new majors in cyber engineering and cybersecurity. Two floors of the building will provide up to 40,000 sf of leased space for industry partners.

The University of Glasgow began construction in November of 2018 on the £113 million Research Hub in Scotland in the United Kingdom. Designed by HOK, the 183,000-sf interdisciplinary project is located on the site of the former Western Infirmary and will provide flexible research labs, write-up spaces, meeting rooms, informal interaction areas, and an entrepreneurship center to promote industry partnerships.

Grand Valley State University broke ground in November of 2018 on the $70 million Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health in Grand Rapids, Mich. Designed by FTCH, the five-story, 160,000-sf facility will provide 15 classrooms and seminar rooms, 14 interactive labs, 12 conference rooms, 22 study areas, over 80 offices, and a library. The collaborative building will feature a learning commons, advanced simulation training suites, and a virtual anatomy lab with 3D modeling and imaging capabilities.

The University of Virginia has reduced the annual operating cost of Clark Hall by $1.2 million by optimizing the facility's energy performance. Located in Charlottesville, Clark Hall originally opened in 1932 and houses the Department of Environmental Sciences and the Charles L. Brown Science & Engineering Library. A team of UVA engineers, technicians, and specialists called Delta Force reviewed and retrofitted the building's systems and equipment to create a 67 percent savings on annual energy costs.

The University of Wyoming broke ground in November of 2018 on the $100 million Science Initiative building in Laramie. Designed by GSG Architecture and Perkins&Will, the 153,000-sf facility will provide leading-edge research labs, imaging suites, collaboration spaces, a vivarium, a greenhouse, and a 200-seat active-learning classroom. Supporting the university's Tier-1 Engineering Initiative, the interdisciplinary project will accommodate STEM programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.