The University of Cambridge opened the Ray Dolby Centre in May of 2025 in the United Kingdom. This purpose-built headquarters for the Department of Physics, also known as the Cavendish Laboratory, will serve as a national research hub and houses the Collaborative R&D Environment (CORDE), a new facility for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Iowa State University dedicated the Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building in May of 2025 in Ames. The four-story, 80,660-gsf facility provides a dynamic new home for the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering's teaching, research, and administrative activities. The $70 million project features technically enhanced environments where students can gain the specialized knowledge to design tomorrow’s innovative, safe, and nimble production processes across all industry sectors.
Purdue University broke ground on a $168 million facility for the Mitch Daniels School of Business in April of 2025 in West Lafayette, Ind. Designed by Gensler and BSA, the 164,000-gsf structure will feature sophisticated labs for behavioural research, financial training, and data visualization. Dynamic conference venues will be accompanied by studios enabling online and hybrid pedagogies.
Providence College opened the 125,000-sf Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences in January of 2025 in Providence, R.I. Designed by SLAM, the five-story facility provides active learning environments and laboratories for teaching, research, and faculty innovation. On the third level, a 7,000-sf clinical simulation suite replicates an acute care hospital floor. Sophisticated augmented and virtual reality technologies, such as Anatomage Tables, offer unique opportunities for immersive education and discovery.
Virginia Tech opened the first building on its Innovation Campus in Alexandria in January of 2025. SmithGroup designed the 300,000-gsf facility to provide leading-edge environments for academic and research programs in computer science and engineering, as well as space for the Pamplin College of Business. Featuring specialized laboratories, a drone testing cage, and a two-story maker space, the 11-story development houses 14 classrooms, wellness venues for students and faculty, and the 3,000-sf Boeing Auditorium.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore opened a 250,000-sf innovation center in January of 2024 to drive biomedical advances and accelerate the discovery of new health solutions. Developed and operated by Wexford Science + Technology, 4MLK serves as the gateway to the UM BioPark and will offer leasable space for life science and technology companies.
Massachusetts General Hospital is constructing the Herb Chambers Tower in Boston to meet a growing demand for world-class cancer services. Collocating inpatient and outpatient environments, the nearly 1 million-sf building will enable patients to receive the continuum of their care under one roof. Clinical teams will work in dynamic collaboration to optimize medical outcomes and further life-saving research utilizing the latest tools and instrumentation.
Healthpeak Properties recently opened a world-class amenities center called The Hangar on the Vantage life science campus in South San Francisco. Flad Architects' vision for the 40,000-sf facility has created a dynamic hub for interaction and relaxation, complete with a full-service rooftop bar, a food hall, a fitness center, and more. A dramatic design inspired by airplane hangars honors the area's industrial past and its role as the birthplace of biotechnology.
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 University of California, Riverside opened its new School of Business in September of 2024 to equip the next generation of corporate leaders and entrepreneurs with vital competencies. Created by the design-build team of Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners and McCarthy Building Companies, the $87 million facility centralizes academic activities currently dispersed across campus while accommodating significant programmatic growth.
The University of Pennsylvania dedicated Amy Gutmann Hall in September of 2024 in Philadelphia. Providing a centralized home for both undergraduate and research programs in data science and artificial intelligence, the $140 million facility collocates shared resources in order to make data analysis tools more accessible to the entire university community. The 116,000-sf structure was designed by Lake Flato and KSS Architects with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant.
Bowie State University opened the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in August of 2024 in Bowie, Md. Designed by Perkins&Will, the $166 million facility will connect students across diverse disciplines in a vibrant hub for exploration and discovery. The 192,000-sf structure will house the departments of communications, history and government, and language, literature, and cultural studies. This new campus destination will also accommodate Bowie State's Military Science (ROTC) programs.
The University of Tennessee broke ground in September of 2024 on an expansion of the Haslam College of Business in Knoxville. Designed by McCarty Holsaple McCarty and RAMSA to accommodate record enrollment, the 243,800-sf building will provide 18 classrooms, three research labs, and two 300-seat auditoria. The collaborative facility will serve more than 10,000 students, faculty, staff, and guests weekly.
The University of St. Thomas is constructing the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena to showcase its recent transition to Division I athletics. Designed by Crawford Architects in association with Ryan A&E, the $175 million development will bring hockey onto the Saint Paul campus for the first time. As well as housing the school's basketball programs, the multipurpose facility will feature a 5,000-seat arena that can accommodate commencement ceremonies, academic convocations, conferences, and career fairs.
The University of Tennessee opened the $93 million Agriculture and Natural Resources Building in Knoxville in August of 2024. The four-story, 161,862-gsf facility provides the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources with both interdisciplinary and specialized lab environments for teaching, research, and public service. Designed by Barber McMurry Architects and Lord Aeck Sargent, the four-story development includes 25 labs, 11 flexible classrooms, lecture halls, and offices.
