Research and Development

Chicago’s newly opened Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is the world’s first translational research hospital where scientists, engineers, technologists, and clinicians work collaboratively with thousands of patients going through intensive post-traumatic and disease-related functional rehabilitation. This unique integrated model dramatically shortens the amount of time between research innovations and practical clinical applications.

Michigan State University is planning a $35 million expansion of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) in East Lansing. Space for a new spectrometer detector will be constructed, as well as an isotope harvesting building. Civil construction of the $730 million, 227,000-sf FRIB reached substantial completion in December of 2017, with installation of instrumentation ongoing until early 2021. 

Techtronic Industries, a manufacturer of power tools and construction equipment, is planning to build a 370,000-sf innovation center in Piercetown, S.C. Slated for occupancy in early 2019, the four-story project will provide corporate offices and engineering suites. An outdoor research and development lab for product testing in different weather conditions is currently under construction at the site and will reach completion in February of 2018.

1. Space Planning and Management Software for the 21st Century Workplace
2. Rodent Cage Technology Evolves Beyond the Simple Holding Vessel
3. The Future of Space is Flexible and People Focused
4. Centralized Research Support Facility Reaping Significant Benefits
5. Eli Lilly Employs Shared Space and Innovative Infrastructure 
6. The Gold Standard of Maker Space at MIT
7. The Future of Research Facility Design
8. Virtual and Augmented Reality are Reinventing Medical Education
9. Unique Survey Tools that Inform Design and Utilization of Academic Medical Campuses
10. Superlabs Drive Collaboration, Flexibility, and Space Efficiency in Academic Sciences

The University of Kansas is constructing the Integrated Sciences Building in Lawrence. Designed by Perkins+Will to maximize undergraduate engagement with faculty and researchers, the 280,000-sf interdisciplinary facility will provide active learning classrooms, teaching labs, and flexible research labs for programs in chemistry, medicinal chemistry, physics, and molecular biosciences. Utilizing internal and external glass to put science on display, the project will include an auditorium, core imaging labs, cleanroom suites, and collaboration spaces.

The University of Washington is constructing the $110 million Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering in Seattle. Designed by LMN Architects to foster interaction and collaboration, the 135,000-sf facility will feature a 3,000-sf robotics lab, a 250-seat auditorium, a maker space, an undergraduate commons, and a wet lab. The building will also house capstone project rooms, teaching labs, classrooms, faculty offices, and a flexible event hall.

The University at Buffalo opened the $375 million Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in December of 2017 on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Designed by HOK, the collaborative 628,000-sf complex offers active learning environments, a surgical robotics center, simulation training suites, a gross anatomy lab, administrative and departmental offices, and 150,000 sf of flexible, multidisciplinary laboratories.

The University of Manchester began construction in December of 2017 on the £235 million Henry Royce Institute for Materials Science and Innovation in the United Kingdom. Designed by NBBJ, the nine-story, 172,000-sf facility will provide sophisticated laboratories and instrumentation suites to promote collaborative research and development with industry partners.

Children’s Mercy Hospital is planning to construct a 400,000-sf research tower on its Hospital Hill campus in Kansas City. Designed by BSA LifeStructures to provide research, office, and support space, the nine-story project will be built on top of an existing parking structure. The project team includes general contractor McCownGordon Construction, structural engineer Bob D. Campbell, civil engineer Walter P Moore, and MEP engineer Brack and Associates. 

Harvard University is planning to develop the 900,000-sf Enterprise Research Campus in the Allston district of Boston. The 36-acre project will provide teaching, research, and residential facilities in a mixed-use setting that will include business incubators, space for private companies and nonprofits, and public green areas. The first phase of development will create 400,000 sf of office and lab space, 250,000 sf of rental housing, and 250,000 sf of conference and hotel space on a 14-acre site. 

PharmaForce is planning a $145 million expansion its Ohio pharmaceutical production facilities. A 140,000-sf addition will be constructed on the New Albany campus to accommodate increased manufacturing and warehousing operations, and existing production and warehouse space will be renovated. The Hilliard facility will be renovated and expanded by 1,800 sf to house new manufacturing equipment and supporting infrastructure. Construction will begin in 2018.

Monsanto celebrated the completion of a $400 million expansion of its Chesterfield Research Center in December of 2017. Designed to accommodate agronomy research programs in biotechnology, plant genetics, data science, and crop protection, the 400,000-sf facility provides a conference center, 13 Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) rooms and 250 research labs.

Bucknell University will begin construction in spring of 2018 on the $38 million Academic East facility in Lewisburg, Pa. Designed by Stantec, the 78,000-sf project will provide four classrooms and 30 offices that will be shared by the College of Engineering and the Department of Education. The facility will also house over 25 engineering labs to accommodate collaborative research on materials science, fluid mechanics, food science, and sustainable transportation to enable the development of technologies for the optimization of human health.

The Hull McKnight Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center began construction in December of 2017 on a 165,000-sf technology incubator and workforce development facility in Augusta. Slated for completion in late 2018, the five-story project is supported by $35 million in state funding and represents the center's second phase of construction. A $60 million, 167,000-sf cybersecurity research facility is currently under construction at the site and completion is expected in July of 2018.

Swarthmore College is constructing the $120 million Biology, Engineering, and Psychology Building in Swarthmore, Pa. Designed by Ballinger, the 160,000-sf interdisciplinary facility will feature flexible classrooms, labs, and common spaces to support enhanced pedagogical experiences linked to environmental sustainability. The project will be developed according to Swarthmore’s Environmental Sustainability Framework, a standard equivalent to LEED Platinum, with some elements exceeding LEED Platinum criteria.