Sustainability

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a widely used buzzword that refers to a rapidly growing network of internet-connected devices and sensors that transmit data back to a central repository for rapid analysis. This network generates massive amounts of information that can be used to maximize energy efficiency, optimize space use, reduce costs, and increase operational visibility across all types of facilities and organizations. LED lights with sensors, smart grid meters, intelligent HVAC and security systems, even mobile and body-worn devices, all generate tremendous amounts of data that both humans and computers can use to make better decisions.

The University of California, Santa Barbara opened the $86 million BioEngineering Building in October of 2017. Designed by Moore Ruble Yudell Architects to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration, the three-story, 45,000-sf facility provides 17,200 sf of open lab space, a 100-seat auditorium, an atrium, and offices for faculty, graduate students, and administrative staff.

Colorado State University celebrated the opening of the $56.4 million Chemistry Research Building in Fort Collins in October of 2017. Designed by Hord Coplan Macht and Ratio Architects, the four-story, 60,000-sf facility provides 11 faculty research areas in a collaborative open environment with an abundance of fume hoods. The laboratory design consultant for the building was Research Facilities Design (RFD).

Sacramento State University broke ground in September of 2017 on the $91 million Science II facility in Sacramento, Calif. Accommodating the departments of biology and chemistry, the five-story, 96,631-sf project will offer 30 glass-walled teaching and research labs, classrooms, collaboration spaces, a 2,500-sf planetarium, and a rooftop observatory. The design-build team includes CO Architects and Sundt Construction.

The University of Oregon broke ground in October of 2017 on the $39 million Tykeson Hall in Eugene. Collocating academic space and the career advising offices of the College of Arts and Sciences, the five-story, 64,000-sf facility will provide 340 general classroom seats, a student commons, and faculty and staff offices. LEED Gold sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility, which will feature daylighting, natural ventilation, radiant floors, chilled beams, and a high-performance building envelope.

MilliporeSigma opened its 280,000-sf Life Sciences Center in October of 2017 in Burlington, Mass. Accommodating approximately 100 employees, the facility provides offices and a collaboration center for customers to engage in training, troubleshooting, and experimentation activities. Additionally, a biodevelopment lab enabling small-scale pharmaceutical manufacturers to conduct early-stage clinical trials will open at the site by January of 2018. The Life Sciences Center is located in a five-story leased facility and represents an investment of $115 million.

Tufts University opened the 177,000-gsf Science and Engineering Complex in October of 2017 in Boston. The $110 million project included construction of a five-story, 79,000-sf facility and the renovation of two adjoining halls. Designed to promote collaborative research in life science, neuroscience, and environmental science, the new building provides three floors of wet research space, four core facilities, two imaging suites, a mass spectrometer suite, four teaching labs, and seven meeting rooms.

Morgan State University opened the $79 million Martin D. Jenkins Hall in September of 2017. Housing five behavioral and social sciences departments, the 148,000-sf facility provides a 170-seat auditorium, flexible classrooms for traditional lectures or group learning, collaboration areas, and an instructional design development suite to support the continuing education of faculty. Designed by HOK and Quinn Evans Architects, the technology-rich building includes virtual reality computer suites and a makerspace with 3D printers.

Daley College broke ground in September of 2017 on a $45 million expansion and renovation project to create the Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Center in Chicago. Designed by JGMA and CannonDesign, the project includes the recladding of an existing building and construction of a 57,000-sf addition. Supporting advanced manufacturing training programs, the facility will provide five engineering and production labs, three classrooms, high bay spaces, administrative offices, and student collaboration areas.

The University of Vermont celebrated the opening of the 100,000-gsf Discovery Hall in October of 2017 in Burlington. The interdisciplinary facility was designed by Ellenzweig and Freeman French Freeman to support STEM programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Discovery Hall provides 14 flexible teaching labs and 22 faculty research labs for the departments of chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, mechanical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, and electrical and biomedical engineering.

Rutgers University-Camden dedicated the $62.5 million Nursing and Science building in September of 2017. Designed by Perkins Eastman, the 100,000-sf facility connects Rutger’s Camden campus with Cooper University Hospital and provides simulation training facilities, teaching labs, classrooms, computer labs, conference rooms, lecture halls, study spaces, and faculty and administrative offices.

Kent State University celebrated the opening of the $37.6 million Integrated Sciences Building in September of 2017 in Kent, Ohio. Designed by Ayers Saint Gross and built by Turner Construction, the 66,000-gsf interdisciplinary facility provides classrooms, teaching labs, research labs, and faculty offices for the departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, and Physics.

The University of Texas at Austin opened the $310 million Engineering Education and Research Center (EERC) in late September of 2017. Designed by Ennead Architects and Jacobs, the nine-story, 433,000-sf facility provides the Cockrell School of Engineering with multidisciplinary research labs, teaching labs, classrooms, meeting rooms, faculty offices, a three-story atrium, and a 267-seat auditorium.

Cornell Tech opened the first phase of its Roosevelt Island campus in New York in September of 2017. Representing a partnership between Cornell University and Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, the project includes:

Michigan State University opened the $88.1 million Grand Rapids Research Center in September of 2017. The six-story, 162,800-sf project provides the College of Human Medicine with open laboratories to support up to 44 biomedical research teams. Designed and engineered by SmithGroupJJR with Ellenzweig as laboratory design consultant, the vibration-mitigated facility features core labs for flow cytometry, bioinformatics, and microscopy.