Industry News

Fitwel launched its Viral Response module in July of 2020. The platform provides annual, third-party building certification of policies and practices informed by the latest public health research on mitigating the spread of infectious diseases. Fitwel, a healthy building certification system operated by The Center for Active Design, was originally created by the U.S. General Services Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

MilliporeSigma, a subsidiary of Merck, is planning to expand its existing campus in Buchs, Switzerland, with the construction of a $20 million laboratory for the company's reference materials business. Accommodating 40 employees, the three-story, 12,000-sf structure will provide analytical and R&D suites for the testing of pharmaceuticals, environmental materials, and food and beverage products.

Nova Scotia Community College began construction in July of 2020 on the new Marconi Campus. Located on the waterfront in downtown Sydney, the complex will provide state-of-the-art learning environments and open collaboration areas for new and existing programs. Accommodating approximately 1,400 students, the project will include a pedestrian skyway and community spaces to encourage public engagement.

Huawei Technologies is planning to construct a $1.3 billion R&D center in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Acting as the international headquarters for the company's optoelectronics business, the 538,000-sf complex will provide research, development, and manufacturing facilities for the creation of optical devices and modules. Catalyzing the growing innovation cluster in the region, the project will be built on a 500-acre brownfield site that Huawei acquired in 2018.

Brown University is constructing the 96,000-gsf Wellness Center and Residence Hall in Providence, R.I. Designed by William Rawn Associates, the facility collocates a 162-bed dormitory with a student hub offering physical, mental, and emotional health services. The sustainably designed building integrates a hybrid framing structure comprised of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and steel components. Featuring natural interior finishes, the facility will provide easily accessible outdoor spaces, with upper floors benefitting from exceptional views.