Strategic Plans

Columbia University’s acting president, Claire Shipman, has announced plans to visit Washington, D.C., to discuss possible models for changes to indirect cost recovery rates. In February of 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that allocations for costs that maintain the infrastructure and administrative support for federally funded research would be capped at 15 percent, whereas previous policies allowed higher education institutions to negotiate agreements individually. 

In preparation for Generation Alpha's in the higher education environment in three years, Stantec is unveiling valuable insights for architects and interior designers on these cohorts’ expectations for the facilities they will live and learn in. Gen Alpha, or those born between 2010 and 2024, are the first to have grown up in the digital age since birth. They are characterized by their global connectivity, awareness of diversity, and preference for a personalized and flexible experience on campus. 

UC Davis Health opened the $182 million Folsom Medical Care Clinic in August of 2025 to elevate community health outcomes across the Sierra Foothills region of California. Consolidating three existing local facilities, the 114,000-sf building offers primary and specialty care, including pediatric and family medicine as well as cardiology, neurology, hematology, and other disciplines. The three-story structure also accommodates new services for cancer patients.

AdventHealth is launching a strategic expansion of its Orlando campus to address a growing demand for world-class care in Central Florida. Representing an investment of more than $1 billion, the project includes the construction of a 14-story, 595,000-sf tower housing 24 advanced operating rooms, 440 inpatient beds, and space for endoscopy and imaging procedures. A healing garden will feature sheltered seating areas and inspiring outdoor settings.

Hospitals and healthcare systems are stepping up to manage difficult choices. COVID funds have expired, staff are difficult to find and expensive to hire, and reimbursements aren’t keeping up with inflation. For those who are planning new and renovated healthcare spaces, the focus is on becoming more labor- and cost-efficient, benefiting from technology-driven ways of delivering healthcare while not losing the personal, human touch.

Gilead Sciences is constructing the Cancer Research Center in Foster City to accelerate the creation of novel solutions for pressing medical challenges. Driven by the company's enterprise master plan, the project is part of a strategic initiative to develop an internal research infrastructure that advances discovery in key focus areas and brings new technological capabilities in-house. The 182,000-sf facility was designed by Gensler to catalyze synergies between 54 clinical programs spanning oncology, inflammation, and virology.

Biogen is planning to centralize its operations with a 580,000-sf global headquarters in the Kendall Common development in Cambridge, Mass. Representing a 15-year lease agreement, the facility’s strategic location will strengthen existing partnerships with MIT in research, education, and commercialization, and build on Biogen’s legacy as an integral part of the Kendall Square ecosystem.

Harwell began construction in early 2025 on Tech Foundry West in the United Kingdom. This dynamic nexus is rising on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire and will offer 70,000 sf of leasable laboratory, advanced manufacturing, and office space. Designed by Scott Brownrigg, the development integrates individual units within a flexible layout to ensure future adaptability to varying multi-tenant arrangements.

Roche announced the launch of the Roche Genentech Innovation Center in March of 2025 on Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus in Allston. With an initial lease of 30,000 sf of lab space in the first phase of construction, Roche intends to expand their R&D presence to eventually accommodate 500 employees. The initiative will bring together cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism experts with data science and AI specialists to accelerate innovation in drug discovery and development.

Rice University opened the Rice Nexus in February of 2025 in Houston's Midtown neighborhood. Spanning 10,000 sf across two floors, the university’s flagship innovation hub is based in the Ion building to drive entrepreneurship and commercialization in association with industry partners. Tramonte Design Studio's vision for the Rice Nexus created labs for advanced tech development and free office space for early-stage startups, as well as showcasing faculty and student inventions.

Sutter Health will establish a 12-acre medical campus in Emeryville as part of a $1 billion investment to enhance the delivery of integrated care throughout the East Bay region. The 1.3 million-sf project includes the adaptive reuse of BioMed Realty’s Emery Yards development to create a 530,000-sf outpatient complex spanning two existing structures.

Broward Health is planning to construct two state-of-the-art medical office buildings, one in Fort Lauderdale and one in Deerfield Beach. Designed by The Beck Group and DMZ Architects, the project will enable Broward to expand their network of physicians and services, and streamline the delivery of accessible, high-quality care in southern Florida. The Fort Lauderdale facility will span 188,000 sf over eight floors, initially offering 129 exam rooms with the capacity for up to 237.

The University of South Carolina is planning to begin construction in 2025 on the School of Medicine Columbia. Serving as the centerpiece of a $300 million campus, the 300,000-sf facility will feature active learning classrooms, extensive medical simulation spaces, interdisciplinary laboratories, and a health science library. An adjoining biomedical research wing will advance the creation of novel therapies and treatments, with a central landscaped courtyard offering settings for informal exchange.

The fast-moving nature of biotechnology innovation means architects and designers for Regeneron have to plan for researchers’ requirements to change by the time new laboratories open on the Tarrytown, N.Y., campus. The campus is undergoing a $1.8 billion expansion, adding 900,000 sf of new laboratory and office space, along with additional parking, amenities, and infrastructure to support research and development.

Inova Health Center–Oakville opened in October of 2024 in the Potomac Yard neighborhood of Alexandria, Va. Designed by Ballinger and Ennead Architects, the 100,000-gsf facility represents the first phase of a regional initiative aimed at establishing unified clinical standards and operational flows across the system. Key rooms and spaces are consistent in multiple locations to increase efficiency and safety, resulting in improved patient care and outcomes.