Higher Education

Emory University broke ground on the Health Sciences Research Building in June of 2011 in Atlanta. The 200,000-sf facility will support pediatric research and investigation into immunology, pharmaceutical discovery, and cancer. With four stories above ground and one below grade, the building will accommodate 65 lead researchers and their teams and will include a 175-seat auditorium. The $90 million facility was designed by ZGF (Zimmer Gunsul Frasca).

The University of Illinois's Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research (CABER) opened its newly renovated Bioprocessing Laboratory in June of 2011 in Urbana. The 2,500-sf facility will support biofuel and biochemical research, development, and production. Future plans include the addition of biomass processing equipment.

Princeton University's High-Performance Research Computing Center will open in September of 2011. Located on the Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, N.J., the two-story, 46,765-sf building will include a computing area, mechanical and electrical support, and office space. The facility will house the Terrascale Infrastructure for Groundbreaking Research in Engineering and Science (TIGRESS) Center.

The University of Queensland began construction in June of 2011 on the $120 million Oral Health Centre in Herston. The facility will house innovative teaching and learning spaces, dental clinics, research laboratories, imaging suites, operating rooms, and offices. The project was designed by Cox Rayner Architects with Lend Lease as construction manager. Completion is expected in late 2012. 

Lancaster University's Institute for Contemporary Arts has attained BREEAM Outstanding sustainable design certification. Designed by Sheppard Robson and built by Morgan Sindall, the $16.1 million, 32,000-sf facility was completed in March of 2011.

The University of California, Los Angeles is planning to build the 23,000-sf Clinical and Translational Research Center. The facility will include clinical research space and a core biomarkers laboratory. The project is supported by a five-year Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) of $81.3 million to UCLA in partnership with Cedars–Sinai Medical Center, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor–UCLA Medical Center.

Massachusetts Medical School is building the $405 million Albert Sherman Center in Worcester. Ground was broken on the nine-story, 500,000-sf facility in September of 2009 with completion expected in early 2012. Designed by ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, the project will house advanced biomedical research laboratories, cleanrooms, a 300-seat auditorium, the UMass Gene Therapy Center, and the UMass Center for Stem Cell Biology. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility.

Loyalist College opened the $16.6 million Sustainable Skills, Technology and Life Sciences Centre in June of 2011 in Belleville, Ontario. The project comprises a 45,000-sf technology and trades training facility and 69,000 sf of new flexible space connected to existing facilities. The sustainably designed center will house the Schools of Architecture and Building Sciences, the School of Biosciences, and the School of Skills Training.

Queen's University School of Medicine completed its $78.6 million instructional facility in June of 2011. Located in Kingston, Ontario, the 125,508-sf project provides two 125-seat lecture halls, 28 meeting rooms, a 20-room clinical education center, a video conferencing suite, a 2,600-sf surgical skills and simulation suite, and science laboratories. The four-story facility will support the new patient-focused Foundations Curriculum. Occupancy is expected in September of 2011.

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology opened the General Motors of Canada Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) in Oshawa in June of 2011. The 175,453-sf facility features a five-story climatic wind tunnel to test products in extreme weather conditions, a solar array to mimic the impact of the sun's radiation, and a four-poster shaker to emulate road conditions. The ACE also includes a five-story integrated research and training facility. The project was supported by $67.3 million in provincial funding.

The University of Utah broke ground on the $24 million Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts and Education Complex in Salt Lake City in June of 2011. The 85,000-sf interdisciplinary facility will promote the integration of arts education into traditional subjects such as science, math, history, and language arts. The Sorenson Complex will also support innovative education in dance, music, visual art, and theater. The project team includes EDA Architects, HGA Architects, and Okland Construction.

Ashland University broke ground on the $15.5 million Dwight Schar College of Nursing facility in June of 2011 in Ashland, Ohio. The 46,000-sf facility will provide clinical practice labs, simulation suites, classrooms, faculty offices, and study lounges. Completion is expected in fall of 2012.

American University of Sharjah opened the School of Business and Management in June of 2011. The three-story, 150,696-sf facility houses 18 classrooms, two lecture halls, 120 faculty and administrative offices, computer labs, and seminar rooms. The sustainably designed building features abundant natural light, insulated walls, automated lighting, and an advanced HVAC system.

Buffalo State College officially broke ground in June of 2011 on a $38 million facility to house the departments of computer information systems and technology. Designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative of Glastonbury, Conn., the three-story, 87,000-sf building will house technology-rich classrooms, labs, shops, and research space. Completion is expected in summer of 2013. Buffalo State College is located in Buffalo, N.Y.

Green Mountain College has awarded UGL Services a five-year contract to provide facilities services and grounds management and to operate GMC’s biomass power generation plant. The company is maintaining 20 buildings comprising more than 500,000 square feet of academic, administrative, athletic, and residential space, as well as 155 acres of natural and landscaped property and athletic fields.