Higher Education

Harper College began construction in June of 2025 on the Business and Social Sciences Building in Palatine, Ill. Designed by RAMSA and FGM Architects, the $78 million facility will offer flexible environments for a wide range of programs including accounting, political science, legal studies, psychology, sociology, drone technology, and computer information systems. The 92,380-gsf structure will feature a moot courtroom and a multifunctional theater and auditorium with 300 seats.

California State University, Fullerton broke ground in June of 2025 on the College of Engineering and Computer Science Innovation Hub. Gensler designed the $85 million facility as collaborative workspace that will empower the next generation of innovators and industry professionals to solve real-world challenges. Rising next to the existing engineering building, the 42,000-sf structure will offer teaching and research labs, maker spaces, immersive learning environments, and areas for project-based exploration.

Texas A&M University broke ground in June of 2025 on the Linda & Dennis Clark ’68 Small Animal Teaching Hospital in College Station. Designed by Page and Foil Wyatt Architects and Planners, the $181 million project will provide the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) with a translational hub for innovation that will contribute to the wellbeing of animals and humans alike.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham celebrated the opening of Frances and Miller Gorrie Hall in June of 2025. Designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood, the $77 million facility advances the School of Engineering’s mission to attract leading faculty and train the next generation of modern engineers. The 116,000-sf structure enables a progressive pedagogy that blends academic instruction with hands-on learning and industry experience.

Northeastern University is planning to construct a 310,000-sf athletics and recreation complex on a two-acre site in Boston. Designed by Perkins&Will and DREAM Collaborative, the multifunctional center will include a Division I arena that can accommodate 4,050 attendees for ice hockey and 5,300 for basketball, with excellent sight lines to enhance the fan experience and enable television broadcasting.

The University of New England opened the Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences in June of 2025 in Portland, Maine. This dynamic new home for the College of Osteopathic Medicine was designed by SMRT Architects & Engineers to equip future doctors and health professionals with the vital skills to collaboratively deliver team-based care.

Advanced manufacturing (AM) experts say companies around the country that are currently trying to build up their AM capabilities are held back by three things: experience with cutting-edge AM equipment, experts who can show how to take full advantage of such equipment’s capabilities, and highly trained workers who have the skills to operate the equipment. Administrators at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla hope to fill all three gaps with the help of a new facility they call The Missouri Protoplex. 

Norwich University is constructing the Cyber Fusion Research and Development Center in Northfield, Vt. The multifunctional building will provide leading-edge environments for programs related to cybersecurity, advanced computing, criminology, communications, geointelligence, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and information dominance and warfare.

Rice University broke ground in May of 2025 on the Moody Center Complex for Student Life (MCCSL) in Houston. Providing a flexible framework of public and private settings, the 75,000-sf facility is poised to become the cornerstone of student activity on campus. The project is strategically sited on the south side of the Central Quadrangle and will catalyze synergies with the Rice Memorial Center and Ley Student Center, which will be renovated upon completion of the new building.

Northwestern University broke ground in May of 2025 on a visionary new facility for the Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Ill. The seven-story building was designed by KPF (Kohn Pedersen Fox) as a dynamic environment where inventive faculty thrive, students collaborate productively, and corporate leaders hone meaningful relationships in their industries and beyond.

Morgan State University broke ground in May of 2025 on the $337 million Science Center in Baltimore. Designed by Moody Nolan, CannonDesign, and K. Dixon Architecture, the 246,435-gsf building will become the centerpiece of scientific research and instruction on campus. This new home for the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences will provide 135,539 asf of leading-edge space for interactive learning, innovation, and discovery.

The University of South Carolina (USC) is planning the next phase of renovations to Williams-Brice Stadium to create a reimagined home for the South Carolina Gamecocks football team. Designed by Populous, the $350 million project will enhance the fan experience with additional premium areas, an updated student section, and amenity-rich concourses with modernized concessions and restrooms.

Houston Christian University broke ground in April of 2025 on the Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building to provide new opportunities for transformative education and further solidify its position as a leader in academic innovation. Kirksey Architecture designed the $60 million facility to meet the functional needs of both the College of Science and Engineering and the Linda Dunham School of Nursing while creating a vibrant destination for all students.

With funding for research under pressure at the same time that colleges and universities are looking to grow their student body, institutions are relying more on philanthropy than ever before. How do you capture the “value intersection” between the donor’s story, the institution’s unique character, and the aspirations of the prospective student? In this webinar, Advent CEO John Roberson, and Grace Johnson, client engagement manager at Advent, use case studies from Belmont University, the University of Wyoming, and the University of Southern California to demonstrate how to translate those stories into a physical space that can then attract even more philanthropy.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is constructing a $1.9 billion inpatient tower in Columbus. Designed by HDR, the 26-story building will integrate exceptional environments for patient care with leading-edge facilities for research, medical education, and training. The 1.9 million-sf development will provide 820 private rooms equipped with sophisticated telehealth technologies and entertainment systems, with ample space for visiting family members.