Indiana University
Simon Hall, recently completed at Indiana University in Bloomington, houses 45 state-of-the-art laboratories in the traditional gothic limestone architecture for which the campus is famous. The 140,412-gsf hall is located at the intersection of the chemistry, biology, and physics buildings, uniting the three departments in an open, interdisciplinary research facility.

Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College's new science facility is a dynamic campus centerpiece that is the first new academic building constructed on the historic campus in more than 40 years. The 42,000-sf structure features classical Georgian-style architecture in keeping with the buildings on Wesleyan's 79-year-old campus, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

New Medical School in Northeastern Pennsylvania Focuses on Community
Creating an entirely new regional medical school from scratch brings with it a multitude of issues, everything from recruitment and accreditation to building design and funding. For The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) in Scranton, Pa., a five-year planning process has resulted in a community-based model intended to keep and attract physicians and provide an economic engine for the region.

Wireless Monitoring, Battery Backup, and In Situ Decontamination Significantly Improve Biosafety
Three new advances in cage-level biocontainment are significantly improving safety for both staff and research animals, while also increasing facility flexibility and security. Technologies that are new to the areas of biocontainment—such as wireless monitoring, battery backup, and in situ decontamination systems—are simplifying the design of vivarium facilities and providing unprecedented levels of researcher safety and control. Some of the real-world benefits of these new technologies include real-time environmental monitoring, remote alarm notifications, and uninterrupted operation of individually ventilated cage (IVC) racks over the long term—which results in more dependable experiments and increased research efficiency. Implementation can also aid in various types of accreditation, grant applications, and regulatory compliance processes.