Higher Education

Montana State University dedicated the Eastern Agricultural Research Center and Extension building in Sidney in July of 2011. Ground was broken on the $3.2 million facility in July of 2010. The building houses three research labs, two greenhouses, offices, and a 150-seat conference room. The general contractor for the 12,000-sf project was Fisher Construction. The facility will support crop science and agribusiness research and education.

Saint Mary Mercy Hospital is building the $89 million South Pavilion in Livonia, Mich. The three-story, 154,000-sf project will house inpatient rooms, graduate medical education classrooms, a behavioral medicine treatment suite, imaging, a conference room, and a 45,000-sf emergency department with 55 treatment rooms. Occupancy is expected in October of 2012. The South Pavilion was designed by Hobbs + Black Architects and is being built by Granger Construction Company.

Louisiana State University completed the $10.17 million Multipurpose Academic Center in Alexandria in August of 2011. The 70,000-sf facility provides 58 faculty offices, 17 technology-rich classrooms, a conference room, two computer labs, art and music studios, a 175-seat theater, and four departmental office suites.

Valdosta State University initiated a $5.5 million expansion of Bailey Science Center in August of 2011. The 15,000-sf addition will house two flexible 75-seat laboratories, 20 faculty offices, and two 30-seat classrooms. The project supports a pedagogy that provides a larger number of students with core science courses, maximizing available personnel to generate cost savings. The project team includes architect Stanley Beaman and Sears and general contractor Elkins Constructors. Occupancy is expected in fall of 2012.

Florida Atlantic University attained LEED Platinum sustainable design certification in August of 2011 for the new College of Engineering and Computer Science Building. Located in Boca Raton, the five-story, 97,000-sf facility houses classrooms and advanced laboratories for research, computer design, and instrumentation. The building includes chilled beam technology, geothermal wells, heat exchangers, lighting controls, and solar water heating. The project architect was Schwab, Twitty & Hanser with James A.

San Jacinto College broke ground on a 108,000-sf science building in August of 2011. Located on the Central Campus in Pasadena, Texas, the three-story facility will provide seven lecture halls, nine classrooms, 12 biology labs, four chemistry labs, three geology labs, two physics labs, and lab support. The building will also provide 30 faculty offices, a computer lab, and administrative space. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility.

The $26.4 million Western Australia College of Agriculture - Harvey will open in 2013. Located in Wokalup, the project will include three teaching blocks, student housing, administrative offices, a library, a dining hall, a gymnasium, and a fully functional farm. The general contractor for the project is Perkins Builders. 

Lone Star College-Tomball will open the Veterinary Technology Building in August of 2011. Constructed as an addition to the existing Large Animal Facility, the two-story, 20,000-sf project provides a 124-seat lecture hall, vivarium facilities, canine runs, surgical suites, and a computer lab. LSC-Tomball will also open the three-story, 60,000-sf Health Science Building and the two-story, 30,000-sf Performing Arts Center for the fall semester of 2011.

Midwestern University broke ground in August of 2011 on a $120 million medical and dental teaching complex in Downers Grove, Ill. The five-story, 193,000-sf facility will accommodate up to 250 students and 400 daily patient visits. A six-story, 341,000-sf parking structure will also be constructed. Completion is expected in 2013.

Manchester College broke ground on the $20 million School of Pharmacy in August of 2011. Located in Fort Wayne, Ind., the 80,000-sf facility will feature technology-rich lecture halls, interaction and collaboration space, and advanced teaching and research labs. Completion is expected in summer of 2012. The project architect is Design Collaborative and the general contractor is Michael Kinder & Sons.

The University of Wisconsin-Superior dedicated the $32 million Swenson Hall in August of 2011. The 144,000-sf academic facility will house six departments and features a central three-story light well, flexible classrooms, faculty offices, and technology-rich labs.

Colorado State University is planning a $16 million expansion of the Engines and Energy Conversion Lab in Fort Collins. The three-story, sustainably designed building will provide between 50,000 and 60,000 sf of classrooms, labs, and offices. The existing 15,088-sf lab will also be renovated. The completed facility, to be renamed the Energy Innovation Center, will feature advanced building systems and technologies. Occupancy is expected in 2013.

San Diego Mesa College began building the $92 million Math and Science Building in August of 2011. The 180,000-sf facility was designed by Architects | Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker and is being built by McCarthy Building Companies. The Math and Science Building will house four floors of classrooms, laboratories, and offices for the departments of biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physical sciences. Additionally, several faculty/student interaction areas have been incorporated into the building's design.

The University of British Columbia will open the $56 million Allard Hall in August of 2011 in Vancouver. Housing the Faculty of Law, the 142,000-sf facility was designed by Toronto-based Diamond + Schmitt Architects in joint venture with CEI Architecture and Planning. Accommodating over 50 faculty members, 600 undergraduates, and 100 graduate students, the five-story building includes classrooms, a law library, a three-story forum, and a research lab. Construction began on the project in 2009.

The University of Houston is leveraging Aircuity’s OptiNet demand-control ventilation (DCV) system to develop a ventilation optimization program that will not only enhance indoor air quality, but significantly improve overall energy efficiency in its new 167,000-sf Health and Biomedical Science Center. When at full capacity, the annual energy savings for this facility are projected to be $239,270, which would give the project a simple return on investment of two years.