Sustainability

The University of Waterloo is constructing the CAD110 million Mathematics 4 (M4) to accommodate growing programs in computer science, statistics, and related STEM disciplines. The 120,000-sf building will position the institution to harness its expertise in technology to revolutionize health care, address the climate crisis, improve cybersecurity, and create a more equitable society. M4 will develop the data-fluent, entrepreneurial leaders of tomorrow with spaces that enable experiential learning and discovery.

Meta will construct an advanced data center in Louisiana to drive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI). Representing an investment of over $10 billion, the custom-designed complex in Richland Parish will encompass approximately 4 million sf. The company is also spending $200 million to improve local infrastructure, offering substantial community benefits and catalyzing economic growth.

Construction has begun on the College of the Desert's $268 million campus in Palm Springs, Calif. Designed by WRNS Studio, this regional hub for education and innovation will provide dry labs, maker spaces, and studios for architecture, recording, and film. With multiple buildings spanning 27 acres, the 175,000-sf complex features The Accelerator, a two-story structure accommodating programs in digital media and arts, healthcare, and architecture.

The University of Pennsylvania opened the $173 million Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science & Technology in December of 2024 in Philadelphia. Designed by Behnisch Architekten, the seven-story building accommodates the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER), an undergraduate dual-degree initiative run jointly by the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Siemens Mobility will begin construction in early 2025 on a £100 million innovation center for rail infrastructure in Chippenham, U.K. Designed by Arup and AHR, the digitally enabled complex will provide world-class R&D labs for the creation of novel transit solutions. Integrated research, testing, and factory environments will accelerate the production of the next generation of signaling and control systems for the United Kingdom.

Western Washington University opened Kaiser Borsari Hall in Bellingham in December of 2024. Designed by Perkins&Will, the $73.6 million building offers dynamic settings for growing programs in computer science, electrical engineering, and energy science and technology. Active learning classrooms foster student interaction and discovery, accompanied by teaching and research labs, breakout areas, a multicultural student lounge, and a collaborative commons.

The University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre finished construction in November of 2024 on an open-access innovation facility for aerospace R&D in the United Kingdom. Expanding the capabilities of the adjacent Factory 2050, the 29,700-sf structure will initially house the Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS) initiative. An expansive factory environment will enable academic, government, and industry partners to work side-by-side, complemented by individual workshops and ancillary spaces.

Clemson University broke ground in November of 2024 on the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine in Clemson, S.C. Addressing a critical shortage of veterinarians in the state and the nation, the $285 million project will enable a distributed pedagogical model that prepares students to go directly to local animal hospitals for training and clinical study.

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.

Leggat McCall Properties and DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners opened a 370,000-rsf life sciences building at Boynton Yards in Somerville in November of 2024. Strategically sited less than a mile from Kendall Square, 808 Windsor was designed by ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge as a catalyst for biomedical and pharmaceutical innovation. JLL Capital Markets arranged $246 million in construction financing for the project with capital partner Deutsche Finance America.

Missouri University of Science and Technology is planning to construct the Bioplex, a $130 million facility for advanced research and education in life sciences, biomedicine, and biomedical engineering. ZGF Architects is partnering with Christner Architects to design the 128,000-gsf structure, which represents the final phase of the Havener Arrival Complex. The multidisciplinary building will provide lab environments for 24 research teams, including wet bench labs and associated support spaces, as well as an ABSL-2 vivarium.

Construction began in November of 2024 on the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre (ASEC) in Moncton, New Brunswick. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects in association with EXP, the adaptive reuse project will transform the existing Gulf Fisheries Centre into a four-story complex equipped with leading-edge laboratories and technologies.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) broke ground in October of 2024 on a $120 million facility for the School of Social Work. Designed by Ballinger, this dynamic hub will consolidate activities previously dispersed in numerous locations, as well as accommodating the Master of Social Work and Doctor of Philosophy programs. Modern learning environments that prioritize equity, accessibility, and inclusivity will equip the next generation of changemakers to create new solutions for key societal challenges.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) broke ground on the Agricultural Research and Technology Center in October of 2024. Consolidating labs currently located at the University of California, Davis, the $76 million facility will enable the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to continue its long-standing research collaboration with the institution.

Case Western Reserve University celebrated the official groundbreaking of the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB) in October of 2024 in Cleveland. Designed by HGA in partnership with local firm DVA Architecture, the 189,000-sf facility will collocate more than 60 principal investigators from the School of Medicine, the School of Engineering, and the College of Arts and Sciences. The $300 million structure will offer both wet and dry labs, a shared core lab, and advanced technology platforms.