Stanford University is building a consolidated home for the Graduate School of Education that will accelerate the creation of innovative new pedagogies and learning modalities. William Rawn Associates and CAW Architects designed the approximately 150,000-sf project, which includes the construction of a four-story, 42,700-sf structure. The three-story, 97,547-sf Graduate Education Building is also undergoing a complete renovation.
The University of Maine broke ground in October of 2024 on the $81 million Green Engineering and Materials (GEM) building in Orono. Designed by SMRT Architects & Engineers and Grimshaw Architects, the 50,000-sf project will house the Factory of the Future, a test bed for large-format additive manufacturing. Academic spaces for the Maine College of Engineering and Computing will be collocated with active research environments, offering unique opportunities for immersive learning.
The University of Arizona opened the $99 million Grand Challenges Research Building (GCRB) in October of 2024 in Tucson. Designed by ZGF Architects and BWS Architects, the 115,000-sf facility offers flexible labs for programs in optics, quantum computing, advanced communications, and biomedicine. With instructional venues, study areas, and meeting rooms strategically located on the ground floor, the seven-story project features robust maker spaces and advanced instrumentation suites to drive interdisciplinary discovery.
The University of New Mexico opened the $43.2 million College of Nursing and Public Health Excellence (CON-PHE) building in Albuquerque in October of 2024. Designed by Dekker in association with RDG Planning & Design, the 93,000-sf structure consolidates activities previously dispersed in ten separate locations, while also providing critical space for expansion. Flexible teaching labs and classrooms are equipped with innovative technologies to support interactive learning, training, and exploration.
Virginia Commonwealth University needed new space for math and science classes. When prototypes and stakeholder feedback indicated the student experience was top priority, they changed their planned two-stage facility to a single STEM building focused on making it easier for students to learn in the ways that suit them best, with spaces designed to break down barriers between faculty and students.
A $139 million project to expand the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia (UVA) will provide cutting-edge business education well into the future by offering students the best technological resources, on-site and remote learning environments, and a variety of spaces to collaborate and socialize. The construction of a new 80,000-sf structure and renovation of a historic building, both slated for completion in March 2025, will grow McIntire beyond the 156,000 sf of space it has called home since 2008. The hub of buildings addresses a space deficit and creates a growing commerce complex, providing a link between the university, its students, and nearby business districts.
Caltech opened the $148 million Resnick Sustainability Center in October of 2024 in Pasadena, Calif. Featuring transdisciplinary laboratories with specialized equipment, the 79,727-sf facility enables investigators and innovators from across the Caltech community to engage in collaborative discovery. The four-story structure currently houses four research hubs:
Cal Poly Humboldt broke ground in October of 2024 on the $100 million Engineering & Technology Building in Arcata, Calif. Designed by AC Martin with Research Facilities Design as laboratory design consultant, the 74,000-sf facility will feature multipurpose learning environments equipped with adaptable infrastructure for optimal programmatic flexibility.
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 Glasgow broke ground in October of 2024 on a dynamic new center for teaching and research on its Gilmorehill campus. Designed by HOK, the Keystone Building will offer instructional settings and technical environments for over 3,600 students of all disciplines. The £300 million structure will feature advanced computational laboratories and a range of wet and dry lab spaces. Providing general teaching facilities for the James Watt School of Engineering, the development will also include a maker space, collaborative areas, and a café.
The Medical University of South Carolina is constructing a $50 million facility for the College of Health Professions in Charleston. Designed by Clark Nexsen and SMHa, the 90,000-sf project will accommodate allied health programs in a range of specialties including physician assistants, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and health administrators.
Washington University in St. Louis held a ceremonial groundbreaking for Riney Hall in October of 2024. Serving as a cornerstone for scholarly and educational collaborations, the 110,000-sf facility will create a new home for the School of Arts & Sciences at the heart of the Danforth Campus. The departments of Sociology and African-American Studies will be located in the two-story building, as well as the Office of Graduate Studies and the Center for Undergraduate Advising in Arts & Sciences.
The University of California broke ground in September of 2024 on the Barbara and Gerson Bakar Research and Academic Building in San Francisco. Located on UCSF's Parnassus Heights campus, the $842 million facility was designed by HGA and Snøhetta to foster interdisciplinary discovery. The 323,000-gsf structure will feature advanced laboratories for programs in oncology, microbiology, diabetes, immunology, and cell biology.
Morgan State University opened the Health and Human Services Center in Baltimore in October of 2024. Designed by HOK in association with K. Dixon Architecture, this innovative hub for education, research, and community impact was built over the course of three years by Barton Malow. The $171 million facility offers leading-edge simulation suites, teaching laboratories, technology-enabled classrooms, and offices for faculty and staff. Interaction and knowledge exchange is enhanced by communal spaces that meet diverse needs.
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.
