Higher Education

The University of West Florida is building the College of Business Education Center in Pensacola. Designed by Caldwell Associates to promote collaborative education, the $16 million, 36,000-sf facility will provide group study rooms, conference rooms, an advising center, computer labs, study lounges, and a three-story atrium. Construction began on the project in March of 2011 with completion expected in fall of 2012. A planned second phase of construction includes renovation of two existing College of Business facilities.

The University of Florida broke ground on the $45 million Clinical and Translational Science Building in Gainesville on May 26, 2011. The 120,000-sf project will house the 40,000-sf UF Institute on Aging, the Clinical and Translational Research Institute, conference rooms, training facilities, research laboratories, and clinical space. LEED Platinum sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility. The project team includes Perkins + Will and Skanska USA Building. Completion is expected in January of 2013.

Central Manufacturing Technology Institute began construction in June of 2011 on the $28.6 million Nano Manufacturing Technology Center (NMTC) in Bangalore. Housing advanced instrumentation for micro/nano machining, the center will include the $5.6 million Advanced Nano Technology Laboratory to support research on nanomaterials, nanocharacterisation, nanofabrication, and nanometrology. The underground laboratory will feature precision controls for temperature, humidity, and air quality, as well as isolation technology for vibration mitigation.

The University of Massachusetts Boston officially broke ground on the $152 million Integrated Sciences Complex on June 8, 2011. The 220,000-sf facility will provide undergraduate biology teaching labs, a psychology wing, and an animal facility. The building will also house BSL-2 research labs and a personalized cancer therapy suite. Designed by Goody Clancy of Boston, the secure five-story facility is expected to open in fall of 2013.

Stony Brook University is planning to build a $194 million translational research facility in Stony Brook, N.Y.  The eight-story, 250,000-sf project will house an additional 250 faculty members and 1,500 students. The teaching and research building will support the discovery of advanced cancer treatments and medical imaging technologies.

The University of California, Los Angeles is building the $32 million Global Bio Lab. Supporting research on infectious diseases and pandemic response, the 6,000-sf facility will feature advanced sample processing and storage systems. The BSL-3 laboratory is located in the California NanoSystems Institute and is created in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Global Bio Lab is expected to be fully operational in fall of 2011. 

Virginia Tech will begin construction in summer of 2011 on 26,000 sf of shell space located on the third floor of the Carilion Research Institute in Roanoke. The $15 million project will create a 5,000-cage vivarium, laboratories, and research offices. Completion is expected in September of 2012.

The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith broke ground on the 40,000-sf Learning and Research Center in June of 2011. Constructed as an addition to Boreham Library, the $14.5 million facility will house the Business and Entrepreneurship Research Center, which features a teleconferencing suite, interactive presentation spaces, and conference rooms; a 24-hour computer lab and study area; and an additional 52,000 volumes. The project team includes MAHG Architecture of Fort Smith and CDI Contractors of Little Rock.

The University of New South Wales is initiating a 107,640-sf expansion of the Wallace Wurth Building in Kensington. The $130 million project includes construction of a new wing and an additional story to provide research, teaching, and administrative space for the School of Medical Sciences. The existing building will also be renovated. The completed 269,100-sf facility will open in March of 2014. The general contractor for the project is Lend Lease.

The University of Windsor is building the $112 million Centre for Engineering in Windsor, Ontario. The first phase of construction is nearing completion with the second phase slated for occupancy in fall of 2012. The 300,000-sf Centre for Engineering will house lecture halls, offices, and research laboratories. J.P. Thompson is the project manager and the construction manager is PCR Contractors.

Fairleigh Dickinson University broke ground on the $20 million Monninger Center for Learning and Research in June of 2011. Located on the Florham campus in Madison, N.J., the new library center will include classrooms and a 100-seat lecture hall. The project includes construction of a two-story, 20,000-sf addition and renovation of the existing library. The Center for Learning and Research was designed by architect Michael Farewell as a sustainable facility with abundant daylighting and efficient building systems.

Southwestern University is planning to construct a new science center in Georgetown, Texas. The $24 million facility will feature advanced classrooms and research labs. The project includes renovation of the existing Fondren-Jones Science Building and construction of a 37,000-sf addition. The completed 100,000-sf facility will open in 2015. 

Clemson University is building a wind turbine drivetrain testing facility in North Charleston, S.C. The project team includes AEC Engineering and Choate Construction. The $98 million project involves conversion of an existing warehouse to provide research, development, and testing space for offshore wind turbines. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility. Completion is expected in late 2012. 

Appalachian State University will open the $35 million College of Education Building in August of 2011. The five-story, 124,547-sf facility will provide 121 faculty offices, 17 classrooms, 12 conference/seminar rooms, administrative suites, and laboratories for design, media production, and computer science. The building will also house student computer labs, a counseling training clinic, and a reading clinic with tutoring and diagnostic rooms. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the project, which features solar water heating and a green roof.

New York University is planning to build a 170,000-sf facility for the College of Nursing in New York City. Designed by EYP Architecture & Engineering and KPF, the $140 million project is expected to reach completion in fall of 2013.