Higher Education

The University of Virginia School of Medicine dedicated the Ivy Foundation Translational Research Building in October of 2014. Located in the Fontaine Research Park in Charlottesville, the collaborative, interdisciplinary facility will house twelve scientific programs and a clinical research unit for the creation of advanced biomedical therapies. Construction of the project is funded in part by a $45 million donation from the Ivy Foundation.

Colorado State University opened the renovated Animal Sciences Building in September of 2014. The $19.5 million project created technology-rich classrooms and teaching labs in the 42,000-sf facility. The Animal Sciences Building includes BSL-2 research areas, labs for anatomy and physiology, and instructional space for microbiology and food safety. New mechanical, electrical, and telecommunications systems were installed. Construction began on the LEED-certified project in June of 2012 with completion in August of 2014.

Kaleida Health broke ground in October of 2014 on the $270 million John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. Designed by Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott, the 12-story, 183-bed facility will be a teaching hospital for the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The duration of construction will be approximately 34 months with occupancy expected in 2017. The 410,000-sf project is located on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and will replace the existing Women & Children’s Hospital.

The University of Notre Dame broke ground on McCourtney Hall in October of 2014. The 220,000-sf research facility will house the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Comprising two wings connected by a collaborative core of faculty offices and conference rooms, the three-story building will provide 100,000 sf of open lab space. Construction of the facility is funded in part by a $35 million philanthropic contribution. Completion is expected in June of 2016.

The University of Bath opened the HIVE research facility in September of 2014 in Swindon, U.K. Located in the Building Research Park, the $1.6 million project will support energy efficiency testing for construction materials. The performance of building systems and structural elements can be evaluated in eight individual cells with partial exposure to the external environment. Facilities include a hygrothermal cell for heat and moisture studies, a double-height flexible construction design cell, and a flood cell for water resistance research.

Westfield State University broke ground on a $33 million science center in September of 2014 in Westfield, Mass. The 54,000-sf academic facility will house laboratories, medical simulation suites, and a technology-rich interdisciplinary classroom. The existing Wilson Hall will also be renovated. The project team includes architect Cambridge Seven Associates and general contractor Walsh Brothers Construction. Completion is expected in August of 2016.

Kean University is constructing the Green Lane Academic Building in Union, N.J. Designed by Gruskin Group, the 114,700-sf teaching and research facility will accommodate programs in health and computer sciences. The six-story project will feature a 500-seat auditorium, technology-rich classrooms, and collaborative study lounges. Completion is expected in July of 2015.

Central Michigan University began construction in September of 2014 on the $95 million Biosciences Building in Mount Pleasant. Designed by Stantec, the four-story, 169,000-sf facility will provide teaching labs, research labs, a BSL-3 suite, lecture halls, classrooms, faculty offices, an auditorium, an herbarium, an imaging center, and an aquatic research vivarium. Occupancy is expected in January of 2017. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the project, which is is being built by Clark Construction.

As health science education becomes increasingly interprofessional, the design of academic medical facilities is changing to reflect this new type of learning. Collaboration is the cornerstone of interprofessional medicine, as health care providers strive to offer the best patient care. Nurturing such collaboration begins in the educational facilities where students from multiple disciplines learn the importance of working together.

The five-story, 70,000-sf Duke Environment Hall, home of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, serves as a living laboratory of sustainable design. The building, which is tracking LEED Platinum, houses the rapidly expanding undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in the Environmental Sciences and Policy program.

SUNY New Paltz broke ground on a $48 million science building in September of 2014. Designed by ZGF Architects, the two-story, 77,000-sf facility will provide classrooms and labs for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs. Completion is expected in January of 2017. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

Murray State University broke ground on the new Breathitt Veterinary Center in September of 2014. Located in Hopkinsville, Ky., the $32.4 million facility will provide laboratories for pathology, virology, toxicology, microbiology, clinical chemistry, histology, serology, and molecular diagnostics. Replacing the state’s existing animal disease diagnostic lab, the 53,000-sf project will include a BSL-3 suite as well as technology-rich classrooms and collaborative research space.

The University of Georgia broke ground on the $44.7 million Science Learning Center in Athens in September of 2014. Designed by HDR, the 122,500-sf STEM facility will provide 33 instructional labs for chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as two 280-seat lecture halls and two SCALE-UP classrooms (Student-Centered Active Learning Environment for Undergraduate Programs). The general contractor for the project is Whiting-Turner. Completion is expected in spring of 2016 with occupancy in the fall.

Sam Houston State University is constructing the Sycamore Vivarium in Huntsville, Texas. Designed by FKP Architects and built by Vaughn Construction, the $1.6 million project will provide rodent housing, four animal holding rooms, and a procedure room. Completion is expected in December of 2014 with occupancy in spring of 2015.

The University of Maryland is planning to build the $140 million Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science Innovation in College Park. The facility will provide UMD’s Department of Computer Science and the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies with technology-rich labs and workrooms for the study of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, computer vision, robotics, and virtual reality. Designed to support collaborative learning, the LEED-certified project will include classrooms for the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.