Higher Education

The University of Kentucky opened a $20.8 million energy research facility in Lexington in August of 2012. Representing a partnership with Argonne National Lab, the 43,000-sf building houses the Kentucky-Argonne Battery Manufacturing Research & Development Center as well as lab space for industry partners. The project is part of the UK Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) and was awarded $11.8 million in federal stimulus funding and $3.8 million in state stimulus funding.

The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing will open in March of 2013 in Disputanta, Va. The 60,000-sf collaborative research facility represents a partnership of the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University, with founding industry partners including Rolls-Royce, Canon Virginia, and Siemens. The center provides computational labs, large-scale production labs, heavy equipment manufacturing space, and surface coating process suites.

Husson University will open the $11.5 million Living and Learning Center in September of 2012 in Bangor, Maine. The five-story, 66,000-sf facility will provide classrooms, faculty offices, an audio engineering studio, experiential learning suites, and dormitory space. LEED Gold sustainable design certification will be sought for the building, which features abundant natural light, photovoltaic panels, and wastewater heat recovery units. The project was designed by Winton Scott Architects and built by Allied Cook Construction. 

The University of Bath is initiating four campus construction projects for a total investment of $160 million. A $67 million, 708-bed dormitory is slated for completion in summer of 2014. A $41 million teaching facility, featuring a 350-seat lecture hall, will open in October of 2013. The $17 million Centre for the Arts will be completed in fall of 2014. Lastly, the existing 1 West complex will undergo a $35 million renovation. 

Charles Darwin University broke ground on an expansion of the Menzies School of Health Research in August of 2012 in Darwin, Australia. The $45.7 million project includes a new building and an upgrade to Menzies’ existing facility at Royal Darwin Hospital, and construction of a new building on the University’s Casuarina campus. Designed by Hames Sharley, the project will provide a total of 57,000 sf across both locations to support expanded clinical research operations. The general contractor is Lahey Constructions.

The University of Massachusetts will begin construction in early 2013 on a $113 million academic building in Boston. The 181,000-sf facility will provide 25 classrooms, chemistry teaching labs, art and performance studios, a 150-seat recital hall, and a 200-seat theater. Occupancy is expected in 2014.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will begin construction in early 2013 on the $80 million Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Complex. The 92,900-asf (152,200-gsf) facility will provide teaching, research, and office space for the Department of Physics and labs for the School of Public Health. The seven-story building will include one level below grade, one mechanical floor, and a penthouse. Completion is expected in early 2014. 

The University of Sussex completed a $27.6 million facility to house the School of Business, Management and Economics in August of 2012. Located on the Falmer campus in Brighton, the 86,000-sf project included renovation of existing facilities as well as new construction to provide instructional space, specialized teaching suites, a 500-seat lecture hall, and a café. The sustainably designed building features a rainwater harvesting system and a sedum roof. The general contractor for the project was Morgan Sindall.

Michigan Technological University opened the $25 million Great Lakes Research Center in Houghton in August of 2012. The 50,000-sf facility provides laboratories for limnology, aquatics, hydraulics, sediment, mass spectrometry, and exotic species. The center also houses offices, a computer and data center, a boat dock and lift, and support for underwater robotic units. 

Indiana University broke ground on the $52 million Neurosciences Research Building in Indianapolis in August of 2012. Designed by BSA LifeStructures and built by Messer Construction, the 137,000-sf facility is a collaborative initiative between Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Health. The translational research building will unite clinical practice with the study of neurological disorders by providing inpatient care, outpatient care, and research in one location.

Vassar College is planning to create a $125 million integrated science center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Designed by Ennead Architects, the project includes construction of an 85,000-sf addition to Olmsted Hall and renovation of existing facilities. The center will provide multidisciplinary teaching and research space.

Boise State University will dedicate the $28.8 million Micron Business and Economics Building in August of 2012. The four-story, 118,000-sf facility provides undergraduate and graduate instructional space, faculty offices, an executive board room, a 250-seat lecture hall, and conference rooms. The building also includes a food service commons and centers for entrepreneurship and business development.

Ohio State University broke ground in July of 2012 on the 235,000-sf Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Chemistry Building (CBEC) in Columbus. The $126 million facility will contain wet research labs with ancillary support, computational research suites, shared core laboratories, instructional spaces, and offices for faculty, administration, and graduate students. Stantec, together with Pelli Clarke Pelli, will serve as the architect for the project. The construction manager at risk is Gilbane Building Company.

Autodesk has introduced BIM 360, a next-generation Building Information Modeling platform. Autodesk BIM 360 includes a set of cloud services that will provide anytime, anywhere access to BIM project information throughout the project lifecycle. Autodesk BIM 360 will work with BIM solutions for design, construction, and operations including the Autodesk Building Design Suite and Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite.

Lancaster University has selected John McAslan + Partners to design its new engineering building in the United Kingdom. The 50,700-sf project will include two wings connected by a four-story atrium and will provide laboratory, workshop, and office space. The highest level of BREEAM sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility, which will utilize solar, biomass, and wind energy systems.