Sustainability

Carleton University will begin construction in 2018 on a $48 million facility for the Sprott School of Business in Ottawa. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the six-story, 100,000-sf Nicol Building will feature flexible learning environments, collaboration spaces, conference rooms, and a dedicated venture accelerator for the Carleton Entrepreneurs. The technology-rich facility will accommodate executive and management training programs for business leaders as well as offering a variety of event and meeting venues.

Monsanto celebrated the completion of a $400 million expansion of its Chesterfield Research Center in December of 2017. Designed to accommodate agronomy research programs in biotechnology, plant genetics, data science, and crop protection, the 400,000-sf facility provides a conference center, 13 Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) rooms and 250 research labs.

In the concluding Open Forum/Town Hall session of Tradeline’s Facility Strategies for Animal Research and Biocontainment conference, moderator Derek Westfall, president of Tradeline, and subject matter commentators, Mark Corey with Flad Architects and Tiffini Lovelace with EYP Architecture & Engineering, led a knowledge exchange on questions posed by conference attendees. This is an edited transcript of that exchange.

Bucknell University will begin construction in spring of 2018 on the $38 million Academic East facility in Lewisburg, Pa. Designed by Stantec, the 78,000-sf project will provide four classrooms and 30 offices that will be shared by the College of Engineering and the Department of Education. The facility will also house over 25 engineering labs to accommodate collaborative research on materials science, fluid mechanics, food science, and sustainable transportation to enable the development of technologies for the optimization of human health.

Swarthmore College is constructing the $120 million Biology, Engineering, and Psychology Building in Swarthmore, Pa. Designed by Ballinger, the 160,000-sf interdisciplinary facility will feature flexible classrooms, labs, and common spaces to support enhanced pedagogical experiences linked to environmental sustainability. The project will be developed according to Swarthmore’s Environmental Sustainability Framework, a standard equivalent to LEED Platinum, with some elements exceeding LEED Platinum criteria.

The University of Illinois at Chicago broke ground in November of 2017 on the Engineering Innovation Building. Housing the departments of chemical engineering, mechanical and industrial engineering, civil engineering, and materials science, the 58,665-gsf (35,335-nsf) facility will provide teaching and research labs, classrooms, student project areas, a high-bay structural research lab, a chemical engineering pilot plant, and offices for faculty and staff.

The University of California, San Diego is planning to expand the Jacobs College of Engineering with the construction of Franklin Antonio Hall. Supported by a $30 million philanthropic contribution, the 200,000-sf facility will feature eleven collaboratories for team-based research, a 250-seat teaching auditorium, a high-bay lab, multipurpose classrooms, faculty offices, and flexible meeting rooms. Antonio Hall will be built to attain the LEED Platinum sustainable design certification or an equivalent rating. Occupancy is expected in fall of 2021.

St. Louis Community College will break ground in March of 2018 on the $39 million Center for Nursing & Health Sciences. Designed by KAI Design & Build to accommodate 11 health programs under one roof, the four-story, 96,000-sf facility will offer teaching labs, classrooms, flexible learning spaces, and a dental clinic. LEED Gold sustainable design certification will be sought for the project, which is slated for completion in fall of 2019.

The University of South Australia is constructing the AUD$247 million Health Innovation Building in Adelaide. Located in the Biomed City development, the 310,000-gsf facility will house the Centre for Cancer Biology, the Museum of Discovery, the Innovation and Collaboration Centre, health teaching clinics, a vivarium, and an atrium. Construction began on the 14-story project in 2015 and occupancy is expected in mid-2018.

Davidson College completed the $74 million Interdisciplinary Science Center in November of 2017 in Davidson, N.C. Designed by Shepley Bulfinch, the project included construction of the two-wing, 135,300-sf E. Craig Wall Jr. Academic Center and the renovation of the adjoining Martin Laboratory. Housing the departments of biology, chemistry, environmental science, psychology, and neuroscience, the facility offers collaborative teaching and research labs, interactive learning environments, faculty offices, and a central atrium with a 120-seat forum.

Montgomery County Community College opened the $32 million Health Sciences Center in November of 2017 in Blue Bell, Pa. The 145,000-sf project, which included new construction and renovation of an existing building, provides 14 health science labs, 11 classrooms, a 25-station dental clinic, imaging suites, simulation rooms, offices, a fitness center, an instructional gym, and a 1,100-seat multipurpose sports hall. The sustainably designed facility features natural and LED lighting, low-VOC materials, and sophisticated building systems.

The California Air Resources Board broke ground in late October of 2017 on its $419 million headquarters in Riverside. The facility will support advanced vehicle emissions testing and research with diagnostic suites, test cells, a chemistry lab, administrative offices, a 250-person auditorium, and a conference room. LEED Platinum sustainable design certification will be sought for the project, which will be one of the largest net-zero energy buildings in the United States. Construction will begin in February of 2017.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is constructing the $102 million Physical Sciences Building. Designed by Wilson Architects to promote collaboration, the 79,500-gsf facility will accommodate 20 faculty members and 130 bench positions for the departments of physics and chemistry. Comprising two stories above ground and a basement level, the building will provide conference rooms, faculty offices, laboratories, and high bay spaces with vibration mitigation technologies.

Toyota opened the $80 million Production Engineering and Manufacturing Center in late October of 2017. Accommodating over 600 engineers and 200 support staff, the 235,000-sf facility offers 3D printing technologies, augmented and virtual reality suites, and the TILT lab, an experimental engineering hub for problem solving and innovation. Designed to attain LEED Platinum sustainable design certification, the center utilizes a geothermal HVAC system, photovoltaic panels, and natural lighting.

University of Maryland Medical Center broke ground in November of 2017 on a $116 million patient care tower in Baltimore. Located on the Midtown campus, the 13-story, 275,000-sf facility will treat chronic illnesses including asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and HIV. The tower will also house the Community Health Education Center and conference facilities. The sustainably designed building will feature a green roof and is slated for completion in 2020.