Higher Education

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC) is constructing the Science and Health Sciences Building to expand undergraduate research capacity and create an anchor for a new innovation cluster. Designed by HOK and Potter Lawson, the $340.3 million structure will provide dynamic facilities for STEM courses and programs in nursing, psychology, pre-professional health sciences, public health, and environmental studies.

The University of Texas System is creating UTA West, a new regional campus for education and training in Fort Worth. Representing an estimated investment of $600 million, the multiphase project is slated to include five buildings totaling 930,000 gsf on the north parcel, as well as a 1,589-space parking garage. Up to four more structures could rise on the south parcel at a later stage.

The University of Nevada, Reno is planning to break ground in fall of 2026 on a $137 million life sciences building. Located in the Mathewson University Gateway District, the 89,000-sf facility will provide leading-edge environments for both the College of Science and the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. The technology-rich center will feature 18 research labs for programs in chemical ecology, neuroscience, and molecular and cellular biology, along with associated support areas and offices.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) is constructing the $145 million Healthcare Delivery & Innovation Building to provide leading-edge environments for immersive learning, training, and discovery. Shaped by the architectural expertise of RDG Planning & Design and Clark & Enersen, the 160,000-sf facility will enable the next generation of medical professionals to gain hands-on experience in the delivery of team-based care. 

The University of California, Los Angeles is constructing the UCLA Research Park to create an engine of innovation and economic growth for Southern California and beyond. The visionary project is transforming the former Westside Pavilion shopping mall into a dynamic destination where basic scientists join with industry experts to advance discovery and commercialization. Acquired by UCLA in December of 2023, the property encompasses more than 1.3 million gsf on 9.2 acres, with two main buildings spanning a total of 700,000 sf connected by an enclosed pedestrian bridge.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building (ALGEN) is the product of a down-to-the-concrete renovation that transformed an aging, nondescript health sciences research facility into a modern, light-filled home to seven floors of four different dry lab phenotypes. The building is topped by an executive floor that, for the first time, brings together key leadership of the university’s health system and Heersink School of Medicine (HSOM). Fresh glazing on an expanse stretching over a busy downtown street creates a striking double helix pattern that telegraphs the building’s mission. A newly constructed conference center adjoins the renovated structure.

An overall trend toward lower admission rates, paired with a rise in online learning, is leading many universities to question whether they are carrying excess classroom and research space. Undergraduate enrollment at U.S. universities fell by almost 15% between 2012 and 2022, and studies suggest that this number could continue to drop each year by as much as 100,000, perhaps more if international students do not return to U.S.-based programs. A study published by Inside Higher Education states that “if the U.S. lost 15% of its international student population, a substantial number of colleges could experience financial repercussions.” The actual number is higher. Using 2022 enrollment statistics, Vermeulens, a construction economist firm, estimates that as much as 38 million sf of existing higher ed academic classroom and lab space could be unnecessary or would be better off repurposed.

The University of Toronto is planning to construct the James and Louise Temerty Building on its St. George Campus to provide the Temerty Faculty of Medicine with modern, collaborative environments for discovery and learning. Standing 11 stories high with two basement levels, the 398,000-gsf facility will offer multiple floors of wet and dry laboratories for interdisciplinary research that will be shared with the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Department of Cell & Systems Biology.

Auburn University broke ground in February of 2026 on the Barbara Drummond Thorne Academic and Research Facility in Auburn, Ala. This vibrant new home for the College of Human Sciences will house nationally ranked and recognized programs in global studies, interior design, philanthropy and nonprofit studies, nutrition and dietetics, human development and family studies, and apparel merchandising, design, and production management.

Colorado State University is approaching the completion of construction on the 420,000-sf Veterinary Hospital and Education Complex (VHEC) in Fort Collins. The $230 million redevelopment project was designed by Clark & Enersen to enable a dynamic pedagogy that focuses on team-based learning, hands-on training, and strategies for personal resilience. A 213,000-sf addition will house a new primary care clinic providing medical, dental, ophthalmological, and pharmacy services, as well as emergency, urgent, and critical care.

Vincennes University celebrated the opening of the $33.9 million Center for Health Sciences and Learning Innovation in January of 2026 in Vincennes, Ind. As the new home for the College of Health Sciences and Human Performance, the 72,000-sf structure provides ultramodern classrooms and teaching labs for programs in nursing and allied health professions. Shared instructional venues for active learning are complemented by collaborative lounges, breakout spaces, and study areas.

Harris-Stowe State University broke ground in January of 2026 on a $62.3 million STEM building in St. Louis. This future-ready hub for learning and discovery will advance the University’s mission to prepare students for high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Designed by LJC, the 82,443-sf facility will include sophisticated teaching and research labs, maker spaces, and multifunctional classrooms that can be configured to mirror real-world work environments.

The University of New Mexico is planning to create a new home for the School of Medicine in Albuquerque. The 330,000-sf building will act as a gateway to UNM's North Campus, which accommodates the existing Health Sciences Center and UNM Hospital. Shaped by the vision of ZGF Architects and McClain + Yu Architecture & Design, the transformational development is expected to double enrollment capacity over the next decade to address the demand for more providers across the region.

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls opened the Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech) in January of 2026. Designed by BWBR Architects, the $117 million building features immersive environments for hands-on discovery. The three-story, 134,560-gsf structure offers a maker space, active learning studios, 12 instructional labs, and three wet research labs. This nexus of experiential education also provides 32 undergraduate research spaces, an optics lab, computational labs, offices, and conference rooms.

William & Mary opened the Integrated Science Center 4 (ISC4) in January of 2026 in Williamsburg, Va. Designed by Goody Clancy with Baskervill as interior design architect, the $103 million facility provides a vibrant home for the School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics, the university's first new school in 50 years. The visionary project included 124,000 gsf of new construction, augmented by 10,000 gsf of renovated space to establish a link to the existing ISC complex.