Higher Education

The National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded a total of $50 million in funding in October of 2010 to support the construction of scientific research facilities. The grants include:

Jersey Shore University Medical Center was awarded LEED Gold sustainable design certification by the U.S. Green Building Council in September of 2010. The facility features energy efficient building systems, recycled materials, and 100 percent filtered outside air. The $300 million, 400,000-sf Northwest Pavilion uses 30 percent less water than a conventional facility, saving 1,314,000 gallons per year. Two gas-fired co-generation units convert onsite waste into steam heat, resulting in a 32% reduction in energy costs.

The University of Michigan will begin construction in spring of 2011 on the $46 million Center of Excellence in Nano Mechanical Science and Engineering in Ann Arbor. Supported by $9.5 million in funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the three-story, 62,800-sf facility will house faculty offices and 60 laboratory modules for the study of nanoengineering, imaging and optics, materials, biosystems, micro-bioengineering, mechanics and mechanical testing, and microdynamics. Completion is expected in May of 2012.

The University of Nevada, Reno is initiating an $18 million expansion of the Center for Civil Engineering Earthquake Research. The project is supported by $12.2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology. Adding 7,000 sf to the existing 23,000-sf facility, the completed 30,000-sf laboratory will house five large shake tables capable of replicating any recorded earthquake. Completion is expected in 2013.

The University of Florida will open its $58 million Small Animal Hospital in Gainesville on November 1, 2010. Featuring expanded treatment and examination areas, the 100,000-sf facility includes a cardiac catheterization laboratory and a linear accelerator. Construction began on the hospital in fall of 2008.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County broke ground in September of 2010 on the $170 million Performing Arts & Humanities Building in Catonsville. Designed by Grimm + Parker Architects and William Rawn Associates, the 167,000-sf facility will house classrooms, administrative offices, theaters, studios, seminar rooms, rehearsal spaces, and laboratories. The construction manager for the project is Whiting-Turner of Baltimore. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore opened the $62 million Pharmacy Hall Addition in October of 2010. The seven-story facility houses classrooms, lecture halls, experiential learning suites, a robotic dispensing lab, and translational research labs for pharmacogenetics, nanomedicine, and drug discovery. The 128,951-gsf (66,115-asf) building is equipped for distance learning. LEED Gold sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility, which features a heat recovery system and energy efficient lighting.

Stanford University School of Medicine opened the $200 million Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building in October of 2010 in Palo Alto, Calif. Ground was broken on the four-story, 200,000-sf project in October of 2008. Designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, the facility features an open design to foster interaction and collaboration.

The University of California, Los Angeles opened the renovated Terasaki Life Sciences Building in October of 2010. Located on the Westwood campus, the $48 million facility provides 33 open labs for collaborative research in genomics, neuroscience, biology, and regenerative medicine. The building features advanced HVAC filtration, plant growth chambers, and temperature controlled suites.

Mary Baldwin College will begin renovating two laboratory floors in the Pearce Science Center in Staunton, Va., in late 2010. Supported by $1.2 million in funding from the National Science Foundation, the project will create an imaging facility, molecular and cellular research labs, teaching labs, and animal research space. Completion is expected in August of 2012.

Duke University School of Medicine will break ground on the $53 million Learning Center on October 15, 2010. Located on the university’s West Campus in Durham, N.C., the six-story, 84,000-sf building will provide a 400-seat auditorium,  clinical teaching labs, simulation suites, and advanced classrooms for team-based medical education. Completion is expected in 2013.

Boston College broke ground on the 183,000-sf Stokes Hall in October of 2010. Housing the university’s humanities departments, the facility will provide 36 classrooms, faculty offices, conference rooms, and a commons area. The construction manager for the project is Walsh Brothers of Boston. Completion is expected in fall of 2012.

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences has selected Skanska to construct a 50,000-sm veterinary and domestic animal center in Uppsala, Sweden. Developed in partnership with Akademiska Hus, the SEK 1.09 billion project will include a veterinary hospital, teaching and research laboratories, and stables. Construction will begin on the sustainably designed facility in October of 2010 with completion expected by spring of 2014.

National Cheng Kung University initiated a renovation of three engineering buildings in September of 2010 in Tainan City, Taiwan. The NT$1 billion project will provide advanced teaching and research facilities for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Department of Resources Engineering, and the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering. Completion is expected in September of 2012.

Florida A&M University broke ground in September of 2010 on Phase II of the New Pharmacy Building in Tallahassee. The 65,000-sf facility will provide 45,000 nsf of teaching and research space. Housing more than 30 laboratories, the $30 million project is part of a pharmacy complex that will include new animal research facilities and advanced instrumentation suites.