Collaboration

Kadans Science Partner is planning to construct a 139,000-sf research facility in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Featuring a modular layout that can accommodate multiple tenants or a single entity, Merlin Place will provide best-in-class lab environments for the creation of new therapies, medical devices, and digital healthcare solutions. A flexible structural grid with adaptable floor heights will support a range of configurations, with vibration-mitigated suites available for sensitive instrumentation.

Vincennes University broke ground in February of 2024 on the $34 million Center for Health Sciences and Active Learning. Representing the largest capital project in the school’s history, the 72,000-sf facility will feature multidisciplinary teaching labs for programs in nursing and allied health professions. Clinical simulation suites with high-fidelity manikins and virtual technologies will allow the next generation of caregivers to engage in hands-on training.

Colorado School of Mines opened the $19.4 million Labriola Innovation Hub in February of 2024 in Golden, Colo. Designed by OZ Architecture, the 37,260-sf building features collaborative project studios and maker spaces where faculty, students, alumni, and industry partners can discover new solutions for critical societal problems. This campus-wide resource for invention supports both physical and computational approaches to ideation, prototyping, and testing.

Providence Health Care is planning to construct the CAD$638 million Clinical Support and Research Centre in Vancouver. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and Kirsten Reite Architecture, the 370,000-sf facility will collocate world-class research labs with specialty physician practices to accelerate the translation of medical discoveries into solutions for patient care. Collaboration spaces will be intentionally woven throughout the building to promote interdisciplinary exchange between researchers, clinicians, and industry partners.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas opened the $73 million Advanced Engineering Building in February of 2024. Designed by SmithGroup in association with PGAL, the 52,000-sf facility will enable the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering to increase total enrollment from 3,000 to 5,000 students to address a national need for skilled professionals. On the ground floor, a flexible classroom is strategically sited next to a maker space to foster the application of academic knowledge to hands-on exploration.

AstraZeneca is investing $300 million to establish a cell therapy manufacturing facility in Rockville, Md. Developed by Alexandria Real Estate Equites, the Class A+ property is located in the vibrant innovation ecosystem of the Alexandria Center for Life Science at Shady Grove. AstraZeneca has executed a 13-year lease for the entire 84,264-rsf building.

The University of California, Irvine is constructing the $250 million Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building to accelerate the discovery of new modalities for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Designed by LMN Architects, the 215,000-sf structure will provide advanced wet labs where teams of investigators will engage in cross-disciplinary research. Featuring integrated collaboration venues and support spaces, the project will also include offices, meeting rooms, and a vivarium.

North Carolina Central University opened the $38.6 million School of Business in February of 2024 in Durham. Designed by Vines Architecture, the 76,608-sf building features a trading lab, a 600-sf business incubator, a behavioral research suite, innovation labs, and executive conference rooms. Smart classrooms equipped with integrated audiovisual technologies actively support both remote and in-person instruction. 

The University of Texas at El Paso is constructing the $80 million Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace Center to provide the College of Engineering with leading-edge environments for research, teaching, and innovation. The four-story, 93,000-gsf facility will feature hands-on learning venues where students can gain the crucial skills needed by local employers such as NASA and Blue Origin. Offering research labs, fabrication suites, high bay spaces, and administrative offices, the highly flexible structure will initially house the Aerospace Center and the W.M.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities opened a 215,000-sf life sciences center in early 2024 in San Francisco’s Mission Bay district. Designed by IwamotoScott Architecture in association with DGA and Powell Architecture, the seven-story building provides 133,000 sf of Class A lab space, 50,000 sf of office space, and 2,600 sf of ground-level retail.

Berry College will break ground in March of 2024 on the $33.4 million Morgan-Bailey Hall in Mount Berry, Ga. The three-story, 55,000-sf facility will feature sophisticated environments for courses in nursing and kinesiology, as well as supporting a new graduate-level program for physician associates. Offering 36,000 sf of academic space, the interactive structure will include large collaboration areas, as well as rooms where smaller groups can engage in shared exploration.

Cal Poly Humboldt is planning to construct the $100 million Engineering & Technology Building in Arcata, Calif. Designed by AC Martin to promote experiential learning, the 74,000-sf facility will feature multipurpose labs and classrooms equipped with adaptable room technologies for optimal programmatic flexibility. The three-story structure will offer a range of research venues, collaboration spaces, and gathering areas, as well as an interdisciplinary maker space that opens onto an outdoor fabrication zone.

The University of St. Thomas opened the $110 million Schoenecker Center in February of 2024 in St. Paul, Minn. The 130,000-sf building was designed by RAMSA and BWBR Architects to foster interdisciplinary exchange by collocating STEAM programs in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. Offering five levels of modular, multipurpose spaces, this vibrant destination for learning and discovery houses classrooms, studios, collaboration areas, and labs for biology, chemistry, physics, robotics, and engineering.

Breakthrough Properties broke ground in February of 2024 on a 175,000-sf life sciences center in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Designed by Henning Larsen and Feilden+Mawson, the five-story building will offer modern, flexible laboratories with integrated write-up areas. Vitrum by Breakthrough will also provide world-class offices, meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, and amenities. On the ground floor, a spacious lobby will open onto a landscaped square, complemented by outdoor terraces on the upper levels.

The University of Portland opened the $40 Million Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation in January of 2024. Designed by Opsis Architecture with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 43,800-sf building features collaborative environments for hands-on learning and discovery. The cross-disciplinary structure provides maker spaces, ideation studios, prototyping and fabrication suites, a propulsion and combustion lab, and dedicated shops for working with metal, wood, and electronics.