Higher Education

The Ohio State University opened the $237.5 million Pelotonia Research Center in May of 2023 in Columbus. Collocating research programs in life sciences, engineering, data sciences, and environmental health, the 305,000-sf building will accelerate the creation of novel solutions for complex scientific problems. Pelli Clarke & Partners and Moody Nolan designed the five-story structure with integrated laboratory neighborhoods to foster collaboration and discovery.

The University of Pennsylvania has begun construction on the $68.3 million Amy Gutmann Hall in Philadelphia. Providing a centralized home for both undergraduate and research programs in data science, the 116,000-sf facility will collocate shared resources to make data analysis tools more accessible to the entire university community. Designed by Lake Flato and KSS Architects, the six-story structure will offer teaching labs, active learning classrooms, collaboration spaces, a 200-seat auditorium, and an expansive student commons.

How do you measure the value of research? That’s the question many universities are contending with as they rethink and revise their master plans to reflect declining enrollments, a complex funding environment, and the realities of older facilities, amid competition for scarce resources. A fresh approach to space planning and benchmarking can help clarify the possibilities.

California State University Northridge (CSUN) broke ground in April of 2023 on the $50 million Autodesk Technology Engagement Center in Lost Angeles. Accommodating programs for the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the two-story, 34,000-sf facility will feature flexible laboratories for research, design, digital capture, prototyping, and fabrication, as well as a maker space that will be accessible to the entire campus community and beyond.

Clemson University broke ground in May of 2023 on the $130 million Advanced Materials Innovation Complex in Clemson, S.C. Housing the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the 143,000-sf center will also accommodate select faculty from the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering as they explore interdisciplinary synergies and endeavors. Collaborative research suites will enable teams of investigators to discover new technologies for advanced manufacturing, energy, and health.

University College London is constructing IoN-DRI, a £281.6 million neuroscience center where 500 clinicians and investigators will work together to translate research discoveries into innovative solutions for patient care. The interdisciplinary complex will collocate the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology (IoN), the UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI), and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

With the rise of esports competitions in games like League of Legends, Fortnite, and Overwatch, colleges are under pressure to open campus spaces for both intercollegiate team matches and intramural clubs. Meeting this need requires flexible facility designs, attention to aesthetics, and, importantly, the involvement of related academic and extracurricular programs, says Rob Bailey, executive director of student affairs information technology at Illinois State University.

The University of California, Berkeley broke ground on a $95 million expansion of the Bechtel Engineering Center in April of 2023. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the 35,570-sf project will add two new floors to the 43-year-old structure to create a vibrant nexus for multidisciplinary innovation. A transparent steel and glass pavilion will leverage floor-to-ceiling windows, exterior terraces, and a central skylight to provide enhanced access to natural light and views, with an extended canopy porch minimizing direct solar exposure.

The University of South Florida opened the $56 million Judy Genshaft Honors College in May of 2023 in Tampa. Designed by Morphosis with FleischmanGarciaMaslowski as executive architect, the 85,000-sf facility features interwoven environments for learning, study, and interdisciplinary exchange. A soaring central atrium opens onto adjoining flexible spaces that can be connected to accommodate large events.

Emory University opened the $440 million Winship Cancer Institute in May of 2023 in Atlanta. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in collaboration with May Architecture, the 455,000-sf facility integrates translational research with clinical care to optimize patient outcomes. The 17-story building offers 80 inpatient beds, six operating rooms, linear accelerators, imaging suites, infusion rooms, wellness areas, and a stunning double-height lobby.

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) has made fighting climate change a top priority for its 250-acre campus in Kamloops, British Columbia. University leaders have committed that TRU will become a net-zero campus and be fossil fuel free by 2030. To that end, it is replacing fossil-fuel-powered heating and cooling with a new low-carbon district energy system (LCDES) that includes a combination of heat pumps powered by renewable electricity. TRU officials and others believe electrification through district energy is the most impactful way for institutions to wean themselves off fossil fuels.

Cal Poly dedicated the $133 million William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation in May of 2023 in San Luis Obispo. Designed by ZGF Architects with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 103,800-sf facility represents a collaboration between the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science and Mathematics, and the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

College campuses are great for what they are—places to bring students and faculty together in the cause of learning and research. Today, though, universities are increasingly seeking to bring in private industry, to take advantage of research synergies and help build the next generation of innovations. New science building projects and renovations need to invite and encourage corporate teams as well as establish fruitful grounds for discoveries. The University of Arkansas faced this challenge when contemplating a new building— the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research, nicknamed I3R—to house labs, core facilities and office space to support five research centers of excellence. They sought to convey an inviting image and a less ivy-covered appeal, starting with the location on the Fayetteville campus.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison broke ground in April of 2023 on a $260 million facility for the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. Designed by LMN Architects and Kahler Slater, the 342,990-sf project will act as a beacon of innovation for Wisconsin’s growing tech ecosystem while meeting an increased demand for programs in robotics, cybersecurity, software design, and machine learning.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville broke ground on the $63 million Raymond B. Jones Engineering Building in April of 2023. Providing the College of Engineering with world-class teaching and research venues, the 80,000-sf facility will equip students with the vital skills needed to participate in the state’s aerospace, biotechnology, and manufacturing industries. Collaborative learning environments will enhance knowledge exchange while offering unique opportunities for hands-on training.