Collaboration

The University of Nevada, Reno is constructing a $75 million facility to expand capacity for the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory (a branch of the School of Public Health). Designed by Van Woert Bigotti, the 55,000-sf building will offer flexible laboratories, dedicated research and screening environments, and specialized containment areas including a BSL-3 lab. A new toxicology program will focus on substance abuse issues. Sophisticated conference rooms will be accompanied by collaboration spaces and staff offices. 

The University of Louisville broke ground in April of 2026 on the Health Sciences Building to advance discovery and provide the critical infrastructure needed to prepare the next generation of healthcare providers in Kentucky and beyond. Designed by Champlin | EOP and Perkins&Will, the $280 million facility will act as a nexus for the schools of medicine, nursing, public health, information sciences, and dentistry.

Providence Health Care is constructing the new St. Paul’s Hospital at the Jim Pattison Medical Campus in Vancouver. Designed by HDR and Stantec, the CAD 2.18 billion (USD 1.59 billion) building will integrate leading-edge technology to expand access to care and elevate patient outcomes.

The Auburn Research and Technology Foundation (ARTF) broke ground in April of 2026 on a $22 million facility for Auburn University's RFID Lab in Alabama. The 100,000-sf building was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood to meet the growing demands of innovation, research, and collaboration in advancing the development of radio frequency identification technologies.

The University of Texas at Tyler opened a $308 million facility for the School of Medicine in April of 2026. The nearly 250,000-sf building will strengthen health infrastructure and address national and regional provider shortages by creating a robust talent pipeline and expanding residency programs.

Louisiana State University (LSU) opened the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building in April of 2026 in Baton Rouge. Serving as a vibrant nexus for scientific inquiry, STEM education, and industry collaboration, the new home of the College of Science drives innovation in the five key focus areas of geology and geophysics, chemistry, biological sciences, mathematics, and astronomy and physics.

The landscape of academic research has shifted dramatically over the past three decades. Where scientists once worked within single disciplines, today’s researchers tackle complex societal challenges demanding collaboration across multiple fields, and the development of partnerships with private industries addressing the same issues. This evolution has fundamentally changed the approach to research facility design, requiring unique considerations for buildings whose users may not yet be identified and whose research hasn’t been imagined. As a result, the design process has become more cyclical, with fewer known variables upfront, requiring uncertainty management while still delivering buildings that will serve institutions for decades to come.

Central Washington University is constructing the North Academic Complex in Ellensburg as a unified home for the College of Arts and Humanities. Designed by Opsis Architecture and NAC, the $108 million facility will house a 240-seat lecture hall with state-of-the-art technological capabilities, 21 active learning classrooms, and 109 faculty offices.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville opened the Health Sciences Complex in April of 2026 to provide leading-edge facilities for the School of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing. The $117.4 million project encompassed the construction of a three-story, 106,000-sf structure that links two renovated and expanded buildings via an activated two-story atrium.

The University of Florida opened the Whitney Marine Research Center in April of 2026 in Marineland, Fla. Designed by Lord Aeck Sargent and TTV Architects, the $41.2 million facility more than doubles the available research space for the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience while expanding capacity for education and conservation efforts. The 38,000-sf building features 12 leading-edge labs, a dedicated microscopy area, aquaculture venues, and a maker space equipped with 3D printers and laser cutters.

LeTourneau University broke ground on the Christian Polytechnic University Center in April of 2026 in Longview, Texas. The 100,000-sf building will house the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, the School of Business, the Department of Computer Science, the Center for Academic Ministry, flexible collaboration zones, and an entrepreneurship hub.

The University of Utah Health dedicated the James LeVoy Sorenson Center for Medical Innovation in April of 2026 in Salt Lake City. Designed by VCBO Architecture, the $50 million facility will foster hands-on discovery, bridge connections between academia and industry, and accelerate the translation of leading-edge science into improved patient outcomes. The 60,000-sf building houses an ISO 8-compliant cleanroom, as well as advanced prototyping and assembly labs with the latest equipment for rapid design and fabrication.

Ford Motor Company is planning to repurpose its former Product Development Center as part of the 3.3 million-sf World Headquarters Complex in Dearborn, Mich. The transformed facility, to be known as World Headquarters South, will provide a modern workplace for 5,000 employees. Existing studios will be converted into flexible, double-height environments accommodating laboratories, vehicle testing operations, and prototyping. 

Texas A&M University broke ground in April of 2026 on the Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute on the RELLIS campus in Bryan. Designed by Stantec, the $226 million research and development building aims to elevate regional leadership in the industry and advance next-generation discoveries. The collaborative 80,000-sf structure will feature Class 100 and 1000 cleanrooms modeled after fabrication facilities to enable full-scale production.

Aviva Investors completed construction in April of 2026 on a 56,000-sf life sciences facility in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Located in the Chesterford Research Park, the Sidney Sussex Building houses 10 individual R&D suites that range upwards from 2,245 sf in size and offer wet labs, open office environments, and write-up areas. BCR Infinity Architects designed the flexible structure to be scaleable, providing the ability to combine units to accommodate unique tenant requirements and support growth.