Industry News

Wartburg College is expanding and renovating Becker Hall of Science which currently houses the department of biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics. The 50,000-sf structure will be renovated to provide office, storage, and classroom facilities. The building currently houses instructional labs, a greenhouse, an animal room, a 100-seat auditorium, computer rooms, and classrooms. The 55,000-sf addition will contain an auditorium, labs, and state-of-the-art technology for flexible classrooms/seminar rooms.

Heald College consolidated two Contra Costa County locations into a new 66,000-sf Concord campus. The 32-classroom facility opened in February and features a fiber optic data communications network for improved Internet access, as well as some wireless technologies. The campus provides classroom space for 1400 students, a center for faculty and staff, and a cafeteria. Heald also opened a new 58,000-sf Hayward, Calif., campus in summer of 2000.

University of California Davis is developing a new Center for the Arts. Slated for completion in fall of 2002, the facility will house an 1,800-seat performance hall, a studio theater, and a 30,000-sf museum.

Meredith College, the largest women's college in the Southeast, is planning a new math and science building. The 80,000-sf facility will be designed and built by women-owned companies. Atlanta-based architect BJLAS Architecture will be teaming its affiliated Raleigh office with general contractor Rodgers Construction of Charlotte, N.C.

Southwest Texas State University is breaking ground on a new $42 million, 240,000-sf academic facility this week. The university's Art and Design, and Technology and Physics departments will be housed in the extension. Completion is estimated for 2003.