Laboratory: Teaching

The University of Texas at Austin is constructing the Autry C. Stephens Engineering Discovery Building as a vibrant new home for the departments of Chemical Engineering and Petrol & Geosystems Engineering. Designed by CO Architects and BGK Architects, the $316 million facility will further the Cockrell School of Engineering’s mission to educate future leaders, promote innovation, and foster industry partnerships within the energy sector.

Santa Monica College officially opened the Mathematics + Science Building in November of 2025 in California to elevate STEM education. Designed by Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign, the 110,000-sf facility brings together the departments of earth sciences, mathematics, life sciences, and physical sciences to spark interdisciplinary collaboration and discovery.

Arizona State University opened the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 12 (ISTB 12) in October of 2025, creating a vibrant gateway to the Polytechnic campus in Mesa. Designed by SmithGroup, the 173,194-gsf facility houses the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering’s new School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks. The three-story development will accelerate work in additive manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence, cyber manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, and clean energy.

The University of Minnesota opened a reimagined undergraduate chemistry education facility in October 2025 on its Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis. Transforming the historic Fraser Hall, a 97-year-old law library, the $144.7 million project comprised the demolition of selected portions of the building, 30,730 gsf of renovation, and 91,350 sf of new construction. A mechanical penthouse was also created. 

Rowan University opened the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine in October of 2025 on its West Campus in Mullica Hill, N.J. Supported by $75 million in state funding, the pioneering facility addresses an increased national demand for veterinary professionals and advances the wellbeing of animals and humans in alignment with the One Health initiative.

Construction is nearing completion on Samuel Merritt University’s health sciences education campus in Oakland, Calif. In addition to revitalizing the local economy, the 10-story tower will enable the university to double enrollment over the next decade to address the Bay Area’s critical shortage of healthcare workers by expanding the provider pipeline. The $240 million facility will feature 19 classrooms, a motion analysis center, and specialized teaching and research laboratories including a cadaver anatomy lab. 

The University of Oxford opened the Life and Mind Building (LaMB) in October of 2025 in the United Kingdom. Designed by NBBJ, the £200 million ($268 million) facility houses the departments of Experimental Psychology and Biology, the latter including the departments of Plant Sciences and Zoology. The 270,000-sf structure provides high-performance wet and dry labs for learning and research, lecture theaters, classrooms, and conference and seminar rooms, with a teaching center on the ground floor.

The University of North Dakota broke ground in September of 2025 on the STEM Complex in Grand Forks. Designed by Clark & Enersen and EAPC Architects Engineers, the $163 million facility aims to redefine education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the state and beyond. This dynamic ecosystem will foster corporate engagement while accelerating discovery in fields such as transportation, artificial intelligence, and advanced materials.

Tuskegee University broke ground in September of 2025 on an expansion to the College of Veterinary Medicine in Tuskegee, Ala. Designed by Flad Architects, the pioneering development will greatly expand the institution’s clinical capabilities and consolidate critical support services to a single site, increasing efficiency and ensuring the delivery of the highest level of care.

Western Kentucky University officially opened a $99.4 million facility for the Gordon Ford College of Business in September of 2025 in Bowling Green, Ky. Representing a key component of the institution’s campus master plan, Amy and David Chandler Hall will drive academic innovation and support ongoing enrollment growth in the department.

Texas A&M University broke ground in October of 2025 on a $250 million facility in College Station for programs in hospitality, retail, and food and nutrition sciences. Designed by DLR Group and Pickard Chilton, the Aplin Center will serve as a welcoming campus gateway and a national model for experiential learning.

The College of Eastern Idaho is constructing the Future Tech building on the Idaho Falls campus. The $50 million facility will leverage connections with the region’s institutional and industry leaders to realize advances in energy resources, sustainability practices, and technological applications, while providing hands-on training to address growing workforce demands in those fields.

Claremont McKenna College opened the Robert Day Sciences Center in September of 2025 in Claremont, Calif. As the home for the new Kravis Department of Integrated Sciences, the 135,000-sf facility enables a transformative pedagogy organized around three overlapping foci: health, brain, and planet. The three-story structure supports a research-centered, solutions-driven curriculum, creating experiential learning opportunities for students and emphasizing the applications of artificial intelligence to real-world challenges.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville broke ground in September of 2025 on a state-of-the-art facility for chemistry education and training. Designed by BarberMcMurry Architects and Lord Aeck Sargent, the $199 million building will prepare the workforce of the future for the growing chemical industry in the state and beyond. The eight-story structure will span 162,000 sf, accommodating two 50-seat lecture halls, 30 research laboratories, and a 50-seat study room. 

The College of Western Idaho opened two new facilities in August of 2025 in Nampa. Fostering collaboration, the 60,000-sf health and science building consolidates growing programs for future registered and practical nurses, surgical technologists, dental assistants, and medical assistants. The three-story structure accommodates specialized skills labs, simulation suites, and three advanced laboratories for work in biology, microbiology, and anatomy and physiology. Group study venues are complemented by focus and reflection rooms, a student commons, and a café.