Sessions

Engineering has emerged as the nucleus for accelerating discovery into application, and universities are progressively realigning facilities to integrate engineering with a broad range of sciences. Session leaders examine the diverse resources and flexibility required to maximize opportunities for innovation. They profile the latest open and responsive environments where multi-disciplinary teams leverage specialized equipment and adaptable infrastructure for collaboration and productivity. They identify new solutions for accommodating evolving pedagogical and research trajectories. Through analysis of programming benchmarks, they chart recent trends across multiple case studies.

Princeton University is accelerating toward net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2046, while also raising the bar for science building capability. The new Environmental Studies and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences buildings demonstrate a big part of the solution: transitioning from carbon-based district heating to a geo-exchange system with thermal energy storage – the second largest such system in the US. Session leaders examine project decisions that delivered high-performance research spaces -- including a vivarium, cleanrooms, trace metals laboratories, mass spectrometers, insectaries, and greenhouses -- in an all-electric facility, advancing both innovation and sustainability. They provide findings and lessons learned to equip others in reconciling science and sustainability targets.

The competitive landscape for enrollment and recruitment is increasing, requiring bespoke facility solutions to initiate or “level-up” research, science, and engineering programs. Forward-facing research facility planning processes must now be a participatory element of strategic planning and factor in urban vs suburban contexts, enrollment and research sponsorship levels, and target goals of initiating, renewing, or re-establishing institutional reputation. Session leaders contrast the contextualized concerns of institutions in a variety of circumstances and illustrate best practices for communication and balancing inspiration with reality. They examine case studies of altering current capital projects during a facilities planning process to establish achievable implementation plans that align with new funding models.
 

What should owners budget for cost escalation in 2025 and beyond as the Federal Reserve continues to reduce interest rates? What pricing structure should be used to accurately estimate costs for your science and technology projects? Attend this session to get better pricing and more accurate budget figures, and better understand construction cost drivers for different science and technology projects. The Vermeulens team delivers up-to-date construction cost forecasts based on economic conditions, job creation and cost data from more than 200 projects. Using analyses of equities, GDP, construction labor markets and their national construction weather map, they illustrate regional construction pricing targets for the next two years and demonstrate bid and purchasing strategies that lock in costs and reduce risk.

Programmatic needs and funding parameters are driving institutions to blend a wide array of uses into individual capital building projects -- from the inclusion of instructional and research spaces to the merging of programs from various colleges and departments within singular buildings. Session leaders deliver success strategies and case studies for using "blended buildings" to support individual program and departmental needs, while also creating vibrant and interconnected communities for research and learning. They illustrate methods for reconciling specific technical requirements with future-facing flexibility, and the efficiency and cost-effectiveness that can be achieved through symbiotic opportunities.

The new home of Villanova University’s engineering programs illustrates innovative solutions to the architectural, pedagogical, and outdated-facility challenges that often hamper advanced research in growing programs in Material Science, Autonomous Vehicles, and Advanced Energy Analysis. Session leaders profile the expansion of Drosdick Hall, the integration of modern labs in a gothic architecture building with low floor-to-floor heights, and how to maintain building operations during construction. They set out new space allocation metrics and utilization benchmarks, successful stakeholder communication strategies, and a building feature set conducive to collaboration and recruitment initiatives.

Science and engineering program requirements are shifting rapidly with changes in research, faculty, technology, and economic conditions. For campuses with limited space and aging facilities, getting ahead of the demand necessitates sophisticated, cost-conscious, forward-looking master planning strategies, and proven models for doing that is the focus of this session. Presenters set out physical condition assessment criteria that align with next-gen academic missions, how to vet growth predictions, and the characteristics to look for that make-or-break facility repurposing initiatives. In the context of a campus realignment case study, they deliver risk- and cost-mitigation strategies, on-site survey processes, best-fit program/space alignment matrixes, and opportunities for maximizing investment impact.

Technology is becoming a vital tool for reducing costs, optimizing space, enhancing safety and security, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Here you’ll see how "smart building" solutions leverage data from connected devices, and integrate streams to deliver sophisticated and actionable insights. Without adopting these technologies, organizations risk falling behind in sustainability, talent retention, and operational efficiency. Brian Haines demonstrates how to create and implement a successful smart buildings strategy, including the right mix of workplace management and smart building technologies, to improve your building's performance, occupant experience, and reduce environmental impact. 
 

The interdisciplinary collaboration at USC Viterbi showcases the power of innovation across diverse fields. The inspiring and future-facing vision of project donors and the blending of diverse disciplines has led to a groundbreaking human-centered computing center: Ginsburg Hall. Session leaders document how this project was managed from a storytelling and donor recognition perspective, and the challenges, opportunities, and unexpected benefits encountered along the way. They provide valuable insights into how strategic partnerships enhance interdisciplinary projects using technology and branding to tell powerful stories that resonate with donors and stakeholders to drive innovation.