Education: Biology

Lehigh University's new Health, Science & Technology Building is designed to break down silos between academic departments, to enhance faculty research and better prepare students for tomorrow’s transdisciplinary world. Three different lab modules—with no walls between them—facilitate easy transitions from one use to another, as well as expansion and contraction as needs change. And collaboration spaces are strategically located between labs throughout the building.

The University of California, Riverside broke ground in October of 2024 on the Undergraduate Teaching & Learning Facility. Providing much-needed instructional space for multiple colleges and departments, the $156.3 million building will offer a seating capacity of approximately 1,700. The 100,700-gsf structure will accommodate two lecture halls, 19 classrooms, six biology labs, and four chemistry labs. An expanded dance studio with a sprung floor will be complemented by an outdoor performance area.

Appalachian State University is constructing the $61.5 million STEM Academic Building in Boone, N.C. Designed by Lord Aeck Sargent, the 50,000-sf facility will feature sophisticated venues for environmental science education. Flexible classrooms with built-in dividers will accommodate a range of programs, complemented by a full suite of biology labs. Supporting K-12 educational partnerships, the public-facing project will foster a greater understanding of the natural and cultural history of the Southern Appalachian region.

Teaching-only lab buildings are so much more than simplified versions of the latest shiny new research building on campus. They serve as a hub for students, a point of pride on tours for prospective students, and an opportunity to showcase a college or university’s identity. But they do require special design considerations, especially around safety.

The University of St. Thomas recently opened the $110 million Schoenecker Center in St. Paul, Minn. The 130,000-sf building was designed by RAMSA and BWBR Architects to foster interdisciplinary exchange by collocating STEAM programs in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. Offering five levels of modular, multipurpose spaces, this vibrant learning destination houses classrooms, studios, collaboration areas, and labs for biology, chemistry, physics, robotics, and engineering.

The University of Mississippi completed construction in August of 2024 on the $175 million Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation in Oxford. The 202,000-sf facility provides student-centered learning environments for STEM programs in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and computer science. Featuring 50 technology-enabled active learning (TEAL) classrooms, the building offers teaching labs, lecture halls, a 3D visualization suite, a tutoring center, and a soaring central atrium.

The University of California, San Diego will begin construction on the Multidisciplinary Life Sciences Building in fall of 2024. Designed by Flad Architects, the 200,000-sf project will be the first campus development that collocates health science research with biological science research and teaching. The multiuse facility advances the university's goal of fostering unprecedented inter-unit partnerships.

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is constructing the $117 million Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech) to provide dynamic environments for hands-on discovery. Designed by BWBR Architects, the 134,560-gsf building will accommodate programs in biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology, as well as supporting related courses in pre-engineering, biotechnology, and neuroscience.

Texas Tech University opened the $112.5 million Academic Sciences Building in Lubbock in August of 2024. Enhancing the student experience with new venues for active learning and exchange, the 130,000-sf facility was designed by BGK Architects and EYP Architecture & Engineering (now a Page company). The three-story structure provides teaching and laboratory space for five departments: chemistry and biochemistry, physics and astronomy, biological sciences, geosciences, and psychological sciences.

The University of New Hampshire completed the renovation and expansion of Spaulding Hall in Durham in late July of 2024. Ellenzweig designed the $89 million project to provide the Department of Biological Sciences with state-of-the-art research labs, core facilities, instructional settings, and collaborative learning venues. Slated to achieve LEED certification, the sustainable structure collocates programs in biochemistry, neuroscience, ecology, cell culture, medical laboratory science, and anatomy and physiology.

The University of North Texas at Dallas is constructing the $100 million STEM Building to provide current and future students with expanded learning opportunities in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Stantec is providing integrated design services for the 128,000-sf facility, which will offer up to 20 general purpose “high-flex” classrooms, nine teaching labs, three research labs, and numerous collaboration spaces. Adaptable wet labs will leverage modular infrastructure to accommodate a variety of biology and chemistry courses.