Franklin College dedicated its new Science Center in May of 2019 in Franklin, Ind. Designed by BSA LifeStructures, the $17 million renovation and expansion project transformed the existing 30,000-sf science building into a two-story, 51,000-sf facility featuring flexible learning spaces that combine laboratory and lecture functions.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office announced up to $33.5 million in funding in May of 2019 for early-stage research and development of advanced building construction techniques to reduce energy costs. The Advanced Building Construction with Energy-Efficient Technologies & Practices (ABC) initiative aims to develop deep energy retrofit and new construction technologies that holistically tackle a combination of envelope, heating, cooling, water heating, and ventilation issues.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory broke ground on the $95 million Translational Research Capability facility in May of 2019 in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Located on a brownfield site on ORNL’s main campus, the three-story, 100,000-sf building will provide laboratory and office space to support research programs in computing, quantum information, and materials science.
Novo Nordisk's global production will be entirely powered by renewable energy by early 2020, with a ten-year goal of achieving zero carbon emissions from operations and transportation. The pharmaceutical company has made a $70 million investment in a 105-megawatt-dc solar energy installation to be built in Pender County, North Carolina.
The University of Maryland opened the $152 million Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering in April of 2019 in College Park. Housing the Department of Computer Science and the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, the six-story, 215,600-sf facility will support groundbreaking research and education programs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, robotics, data science, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and virtual and augmented reality.
Simon Fraser University opened the CAD$126 million Sustainable Energy Engineering building in April of 2019 in Surrey, British Columbia. Designed by Revery Architecture with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 220,200-sf facility will accommodate programs in renewable energy, sustainable manufacturing, mechatronics, and clean power generation.
Colorado State University opened the $20 million JBS Global Food Innovation Center in April of 2019 in Fort Collins. Designed to promote innovation in food science, nutrition, animal welfare, and food safety, the 36,000-sf facility includes a comprehensive meat harvesting and processing center, a culinary research hub, 200-seat auditorium with a demonstration area, a retail store, and a café.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst opened the $62 million Business Innovation Hub in April of 2019. Designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) with Goody Clancy as architect of record, the 72,000-sf project represents an expansion and partial renovation of the Isenberg School of Management. Featuring flexible collaboration and social spaces, the technology-rich circular structure consolidates Isenberg’s faculty and staff in a single location to promote connectivity.
The University of Michigan opened the $261 million Biological Science Building in April of 2019 in Ann Arbor. Designed by SmithGroup and Ennead Architects to accommodate 90 principal investigators and their teams, the interdisciplinary building offers 84 wet and dry research labs arranged in open neighborhoods for optimal flexibility.
Pennsylvania State University dedicated the $144 million Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building in April of 2019 in University Park. Designed by HOK, the six-story, 194,100-sf (109,100-asf) facility houses classrooms, conference rooms, collaboration spaces, instrumentation suites, a student commons, a 150-seat auditorium, and open labs arranged in neighborhoods to promote interaction. Transparent glass walls in interior corridors put science on display and integrated magnetic whiteboards encourage students and faculty to share ideas.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst opened the $101 million Physical Sciences Building in April of 2019. Designed by Wilson HGA, the 95,000-sf facility can accommodate 20 faculty-led research groups with a total of 130 reconfigurable bench positions. Supporting scientific discovery in organic chemistry, materials science, and condensed matter physics, the building provides open research labs, extensive core support labs, offices, and collaboration areas.
The University of Colorado is building the $61.4 million William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center in Colorado Springs. Designed by HOK and RTA Architects, the 104,000-sf facility will be the first of its kind to integrate undergraduate and graduate education with clinical practice and research in a sports medicine and performance environment.
Boston University is engaged in a $112 million renovation and expansion of the Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Designed by SmithGroup, the project includes renovation of 53,100 sf of existing space and construction of a seven-story, 41,900-sf addition to provide a 140-seat auditorium, student collaboration areas, classrooms, teaching labs, offices, and clinical space. A new façade will bring natural light into the flexible facility, which will include a café and lounges for students and residents.
BASF opened a 54,000-sf facility at Innovation Campus Shanghai in March of 2019. The $28 million project houses the Automotive Application Center which features a 3D robotic simulator, a state-of-the-art spray booth for electrostatic applications, and a physical testing lab. The sustainably designed structure also accommodates the Process Catalysis Research & Development Center which offers highly specialized testing units for evaluating solid catalyst performance as well as advanced facilities for solids processing.
Virginia Commonwealth University opened the $87 million College of Health Professions in March of 2019 in Richmond. Designed by EYP Architecture and Engineering, the eight-story, 154,000-gsf facility unites nine departments in a sustainably designed structure that is expected to attain LEED Silver certification.
