Higher Education

Stanford University opened the $420 million Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) in August of 2010. Located underground in Menlo Park, Calif., the facility houses the world’s most powerful X-ray laser. The instrument will support research on fundamental chemistry, physics, materials science, and energy. Construction began on the project in October of 2006. The facility, which was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget, will accommodate 350 scientists. Project funding of $53.6 million was provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The University of Texas is planning to build an $800 million academic medical center in Dallas to replace UT Southwestern University Hospital in St. Paul. The 12-story, 1.3 million-sf facility is slated for completion in September of 2014. Providing 424 beds, the patient-centered hospital will provide integrated facilities for research, education, and clinical treatment. The hospital will include 40 emergency rooms, 24 operating rooms, a helipad, and a dedicated thermal energy plant. Construction is expected to begin on the project in March of 2011.

The University of Tulsa will break ground in October of 2010 on the $14 million J. Newton Rayzor Hall. Housing the departments of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, the two-story facility will provide 24 integrated classrooms and teaching and research labs, 33 offices, five student lounges, and two conference rooms. Completion is expected in late spring of 2012.

Seminole State College began renovating a 93,000-sf instructional facility on its Lake Mary/Sanford campus in August of 2010. The project team includes HuntonBrady Architects of Orlando and construction manager Wharton-Smith. The three-story facility will be reconfigured to include student lounges, an atrium, and a glass curtainwall. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the building, which will feature natural lighting and energy-efficient building systems.

The University of Missouri School of Medicine opened its 9,000-sf Neuroscience Center in August of 2010. The $1.4 million facility was created by renovating existing laboratory space on the seventh floor of the Medical Sciences building in Columbia, Mo. Construction began on the project in September of 2009.

The University of Kansas completed the $7.25 million Bioscience and Technology Business Center in Lawrence in June of 2010. The 20,000-sf business incubator houses offices and wet and dry laboratories for life sciences research and development. Ground was broken on the project in summer of 2009.

Southwest Tennessee Community College broke ground in August of 2010 on the Nursing, Natural Sciences, and Biotechnology Building. The facility will address the local shortage of biotechnicians and nurse practitioners by training up to 400 students a year.

The University of New South Wales broke ground in August of 2010 on the $125 million Tyree Energy Technologies Building in Sydney, Australia. The facility will support research in photovoltaics, carbon capture and storage, oil and gas reserves, nanomaterials, energy policy, and market analysis. Accommodating 300 engineering students and 100 staff members, the sustainably-designed building will include a roof-mounted solar panel array and a gas-fired tri-generation plant for power, heating, and cooling.

Fitchburg State University is planning a $42 million expansion of Condike Science Center in Fitchburg, Mass. The 54,700-sf addition will house classrooms and teaching and research labs for biology and chemistry. The existing science center will be renovated to provide faculty offices and classrooms for physics and geophysical sciences.

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine is expanding its Drug Discovery Core Facility in Hershey. Supported by $2.78 million federal stimulus funding, the project includes renovation of 6,600 sf on the second floor of the Biomedical Research Building. Consolidating and integrating shared resources for research, the project will provide contiguous offices with dedicated data analysis workstations as well as communal space for faculty and student users.

The University of Queensland opened the $100 million School of Veterinary Science in Gatton in August of 2010. The teaching and research complex includes the Veterinary Science Building, the UQ Veterinary Medical Centre Pre-Clinical Teaching Laboratories, the Veterinary Clinical Studies Building, and the Equine and Companion Animal Hospitals. The school will accommodate 550 veterinary science students.

The University of Central Florida opened its College of Medicine in August of 2010. Located in the Lake Nona Medical City in Orlando, the $65 million facility houses classrooms, anatomy and simulation labs, and a medical library. Construction began on the 168,000-sf building in June of 2008. LEED sustainable design certification is being sought for the project.

Brown University began construction in June of 2010 on a $42 million renovation project in Providence, R.I. The existing Metcalf Chemistry and Research laboratory will be reconfigured to create a home for the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences. The facility will feature modern laboratories, classrooms, and faculty offices. Completion is expected in fall of 2011 with laboratories opening in early 2012.

The University of Liverpool has awarded Shepherd Construction a £16.5 million contract to build the 5,950-sm Apex project. The interdisciplinary facility will house researchers studying infectious diseases, cancer, and digestive diseases. BREEAM sustainable design certification will be sought for the project, which will include a heat recovery system. Completion is expected in October of 2011.

Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory broke ground on the 47,500-sf Building 30 in July of 2010. The $30 million spacecraft assembly and testing facility will include optics labs and a high-bay cleanroom. The project will support research for NASA and the Department of Defense and is expected to open in fall of 2012. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility.