Sustainability

Washington State University is constructing the 65,000-sf Schweitzer Engineering Hall on its Pullman campus. Designed by ZGF Architects, the $80.4 million facility will act as the gateway to a vibrant new precinct for the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture. Two welcoming entry points will lead to an open, flexible atrium where students can gather and collaborate, accompanied by a learning and advising center to enhance academic outcomes.

Indiana University opened the $230 million Medical Education and Research Building (MERB) in June of 2025 in Indianapolis. Representing the largest construction project in the history of the School of Medicine, the 11-story, 326,200-gsf complex was designed by Perkins&Will and Browning Day as a dynamic hub for instruction, training, and discovery.

Fermi America is partnering with the Texas Tech University System to establish the Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus in Amarillo. Also known as the HyperGrid, the visionary development will provide crucial infrastructure to meet the growing demands of artificial intelligence, data innovation, and sustainable energy. The 5,769-acre site will accommodate 18 million sf of data center space and will eventually generate up to 11 gigawatts of IT capacity.

The University of Virginia is constructing the $100 million Karsh Institute of Democracy in Charlottesville to foster the exploration and enhancement of democratic culture, laws, and institutions. Designed by Höweler+Yoon Architecture and Hanbury, this vibrant ecosystem of spaces will bring faculty, students, staff, and public figures together to accelerate the translation of research and scholarship into actionable solutions.

Virginia Commonwealth University is planning to construct a new School of Dentistry to advance dental education and improve access to care throughout the state and beyond. Designed by Kahler Slater in collaboration with Hanbury, the 312,000-sf facility will collocate sophisticated teaching labs with environments for clinical instruction and specialized patient treatment in a landmark setting.

Harper College began construction in June of 2025 on the Business and Social Sciences Building in Palatine, Ill. Designed by RAMSA and FGM Architects, the $78 million facility will offer flexible environments for a wide range of programs including accounting, political science, legal studies, psychology, sociology, drone technology, and computer information systems. The 92,380-gsf structure will feature a moot courtroom and a multifunctional theater and auditorium with 300 seats.

Construction will begin in fall of 2025 on the first phase of a 1,614,600-sf expansion of the Wellcome Genome Campus in the Hinxton, Cambridgeshire. The transformative project is led by master developer Urban&Civic and will extend the site from 125 to 440 acres. Supported by infrastructure works including roads, bridges, and utility networks, this visionary initiative will also deliver 1,500 homes, a recreation center, a swimming pool, and other amenities.

Three years after the end of the pandemic, office occupancies have still not gone back to where they were pre-COVID, and there is a wide range of opinions about whether they should. While some executives have ordered everyone back into the office, arguing that being physically present facilitates engagement and innovation, many workers argue that their working life and their home life are better when they can choose where they log on.

California State University, Fullerton broke ground in June of 2025 on the College of Engineering and Computer Science Innovation Hub. Gensler designed the $85 million facility as collaborative workspace that will empower the next generation of innovators and industry professionals to solve real-world challenges. Rising next to the existing engineering building, the 42,000-sf structure will offer teaching and research labs, maker spaces, immersive learning environments, and areas for project-based exploration.

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences opened the Harold Alfond Center for Ocean Education and Innovation in June of 2025. Designed by Harriman, the $31 million project represents a 40 percent increase in the footprint of the nonprofit institution's campus in East Boothbay, Maine. The 25,000-sf expansion offers advanced laboratories for discovery and development where investigators will translate early-stage ideas into novel products and solutions.

Wexford Science & Technology opened a visionary innovation district called The Pearl in Charlotte in June of 2025. Created as a public-private partnership with Advocate Health, Atrium Health, and Ventas, the mixed-use development strategically collocates world-class facilities for medical instruction and training with research environments for leading health technology companies.  

Northeastern University is planning to construct a 310,000-sf athletics and recreation complex on a two-acre site in Boston. Designed by Perkins&Will and DREAM Collaborative, the multifunctional center will include a Division I arena that can accommodate 4,050 attendees for ice hockey and 5,300 for basketball, with excellent sight lines to enhance the fan experience and enable television broadcasting.

The University of New England opened the Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences in June of 2025 in Portland, Maine. This dynamic new home for the College of Osteopathic Medicine was designed by SMRT Architects & Engineers to equip future doctors and health professionals with the vital skills to collaboratively deliver team-based care.

Ivanhoé Cambridge and Lendlease celebrated the completion of a $545 million life sciences center in Boston in June of 2025. Designed by SGA, FORUM strategically integrates Class A laboratory environments with collaborative workspaces and engaging community amenities. The 350,000-rsf facility offers flexible floor plates spanning 50,000 sf, supported by robust infrastructure to meet the demands of next-generation research programs.

Rice University broke ground in May of 2025 on the Moody Center Complex for Student Life (MCCSL) in Houston. Providing a flexible framework of public and private settings, the 75,000-sf facility is poised to become the cornerstone of student activity on campus. The project is strategically sited on the south side of the Central Quadrangle and will catalyze synergies with the Rice Memorial Center and Ley Student Center, which will be renovated upon completion of the new building.