Collaboration

The University of Maryland broke ground in August of 2021 on the $116 million Chemistry Building in College Park. Designed by Ballinger, the flexible 105,000-sf structure will provide 34 modular research labs with robust climate controls and vibration mitigation technologies. Accelerating innovation in advanced materials, nanoscience, energy storage, quantum chemistry, and drug discovery and delivery, the project will include two core facilities, 12 meeting and huddle rooms, open office environments, and 13,000 sf of collaboration space.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology opened a $29 million academic building in September of 2021 in Terre Haute, Ind. Designed by RATIO Architects with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 70,000-sf facility provides engineering design studios, flexible classrooms, collaborative workspaces, breakout rooms, and faculty innovation spaces.

The Fitzsimons Innovation Community broke ground in August of 2021 on Bioscience 5 in Aurora, Colo. Strategically located next to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the 90,000-sf building will enable biomedical and pharmaceutical tenants to manufacture next-generation cell and gene therapy products on a commercial scale. Saunders Construction is the general contractor for the highly flexible facility, which is slated for occupancy in spring of 2022.

Rice University began site work in summer of 2021 for the $152 million Engineering and Science Building in Houston. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill with Scientia Architects as laboratory design consultant, the 266,000-sf structure will provide state-of-the-art labs, maker spaces, seminar rooms, interactive gathering areas, classrooms, and a dedicated prototyping facility. Flexible office areas will include touchdown spaces for faculty, graduate students, and staff.

The Davis Companies and Boston Development Group broke ground in August of 2021 on a purpose-built life sciences building in Watertown, Mass. The joint-venture project will offer 224,000 rsf of Class A research space for biomedical and pharmaceutical tenants. Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, the facility will provide next-generation laboratories, offices, a fitness center, a shared rooftop balcony, six private outdoor areas, and ample indoor parking accessible directly beneath the building.

Howard University will begin construction in 2023 on the National Research Center for Health Disparities in Washington. Accelerating the discovery of new solutions for chronic illnesses, the 260,000-sf facility will provide sophisticated laboratory and office environments where academic investigators can engage in collaborative discovery with pharmaceutical companies and biomedical research organizations.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford broke ground on the $18 million Engineering & Information Technologies Building in August of 2021. Designed by HED and LPA Partners to enable team-based learning and discovery, the 39,000-sf facility will provide engineering labs and shops, computer labs, large group classrooms, a data center, and offices for faculty and staff. All building functions will open towards a two-story collaborative center to enhance interaction, visibility, and accessibility.

Florida State University broke ground in August of 2021 on the $88 million Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building in Tallahassee, Fla. Designed by HGA as an 'idea factory' for materials science discovery, the 116,000-sf project will provide open labs, core facilities, and collaboration venues for up to 30 research teams. The highly flexible and adaptable structure will collocate investigators with expertise in biomedical engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, condensed matter physics, and device prototyping.

The Ohio State University is constructing the $237.5 million Interdisciplinary Research Facility in Columbus. Anchoring a new innovation district, the 305,000-sf building will accommodate biomedical, life sciences, engineering, and environmental science research programs. Designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners and Moody Nolan to foster interaction and collaboration, the five-story structure will provide wet labs, computational labs, core labs, a vivarium, and a variety of support spaces.

Boston Properties broke ground in July of 2021 on a $105 million life sciences facility in Waltham, Mass. Designed by Stantec, 180 CityPoint will provide leasable lab and office environments with exceptional access to natural light and views. Featuring shared meeting spaces and a collaborative co-working nexus, the six-story, 329,000-sf building will include an expansive roof deck, a food hall, a wellness center, an indoor basketball court, and a 900-car parking structure.

Miami University is constructing a $96 million health sciences building in Oxford, Ohio. Designed by BSA Lifestructures, the 165,000-gsf facility will create dynamic synergies between programs in nursing and allied health professions. The north wing of the three-story structure will offer classrooms, teaching labs, a fitness studio, and a wellness center. The middle wing will house research labs, faculty and staff offices, interprofessional lounges, eight simulation suites,  a wet/dry training lab, two 20-bed skills labs, and a gross anatomy lab.

The University of Victoria will break ground in early 2022 on a CAD$89.6 million project to provide new facilities for the Department of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). A six-story addition to the existing ECS building will feature new laboratories and instructional venues for the university's growing programs in biomedical, civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, and software engineering. The adjacent High Bay Research and Structures Lab will enable large-scale experiments and the testing of new construction methods and materials.

The University of Illinois at Chicago broke ground in July of 2021 on the $118 million Computer Design Research and Learning Center. Designed by LMN Architects and Booth Hansen to enhance interaction and intellectual exchange, the 135,000-sf facility will provide 35 research labs, 15 classrooms, faculty and administrative offices, an auditorium, and a flexible event venue. The inviting structure will act as a new hub of campus activity with a five-story daylit atrium and an undergraduate learning and community center.

Pennsylvania State University broke ground in July of 2021 on the West 1 engineering building in University Park. Located on the West Campus, the 290,000-gsf facility will provide general-purpose classrooms, faculty and administrative offices, and research and teaching labs for programs in aerospace engineering, architectural engineering, acoustics, and civil and environmental engineering. Strategically grouping research programs by theme will dramatically increase the utilization of shared spaces.

General Motors is planning to construct a $71 million R&D campus in Pasadena, Calif. Replacing an existing facility in North Hollywood, the 149,000-sf complex will provide GM's Advanced Design Center with multidisciplinary engineering labs for the discovery of new mobility solutions. The collaborative research center will provide the latest tools, equipment, and workspaces that have been tactically designed to foster synergy and ideation, including: