Higher Education

Duke University will construct a two-story addition to its Central Vivarium in Durham, N.C., to provide large animal housing and procedure space. The 19,215-gsf (16,762-nsf) project will facilitate consolidation of USDA-covered species in a single vivarium and will enable sharing of advanced equipment. Designed to be fully integrated into Duke’s Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, the facility will house non-human primates, agricultural animals, and canines. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the addition.

East Tennessee State University is initiating a renovation of its basic science and clinical research facilities in Johnson City. Supported by $9.1 million in federal stimulus funding, the project will renovate laboratories in the 105,000-sf Building 119. Infrastructure upgrades will replace outdated mechanical and electrical systems and specialized laboratories will be constructed for microscopy, tissue culture, and animal research.

George Washington University will renovate 25,400 sf of existing space in Washington to create the Research Center for the Neglected Diseases of Poverty. Housing translational research facilities for the development of new vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, the center will support the study of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and neglected infections of poverty (NIPs) such as hookworm, schistosomiasis, opisthorchiasis, and toxoplasmosis. The multidisciplinary project is supported by $15 million in federal stimulus funding.

Duke University will create a biomedical research facility in the Fitzpatrick Center for Interdisciplinary Engineering, Medicine and Applied Sciences in Durham, N.C. Supported by $4.2 million in federal stimulus funding, the project includes conversion of existing shell space to house a vivarium, research laboratories, and offices. Supporting translational research for the development of advanced therapeutics, the facility will provide 2,520 mouse cages, 480 rat cages, and 40 cages for other species.

Georgia Gwinnett College opened its $28.3 million Library and Learning Center in Lawrenceville in July of 2010. The 91,000-sf facility features technology-rich classrooms, meeting spaces, a café, an atrium, and space for 300,000 volumes. The building also houses the Center for Teaching Excellence and Student Success.

Emory University will construct an ABSL-3 facility at Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta. Supporting research on infectious diseases and transplant medicine, the project will include secure laboratories and nonhuman primate housing. Featuring specialized housing facilities for immunocompromised animals, the project will include separate air handling systems for the transplant medicine and ABSL3 areas to eliminate the possibility of cross contamination. Construction of the facility is supported by $14.8 million in federal stimulus funding.

Dublin City University will build the 3,000-sm Nano-Bioanalytical Research Facility adjacent to the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology in Dublin. The facility will support research in translational nano-medicine and is supported by €23.8 million in government funding.

Medical University of South Carolina will renovate the second and third floors of its Basic Sciences Building in Charleston, S.C. Supported by $15 million in federal stimulus funding, the project will provide advanced laboratories for multidisciplinary research. A-13,700-sf area on the second floor will be renovated to provide labs for molecular therapy, biodefense, emerging infectious diseases, microbiology, and basic immunology. The third floor will provide 19,000 sf of pharmacology, drug discovery, and pharmacogenetics research space.

Michigan State University opened the Anaerobic Digester Research and Education Center in July of 2010 in East Lansing. The 6,000-sf facility will support the development of anaerobic digestion systems for small farms to convert animal manure to energy. Consolidating four laboratories previously housed in other locations, the ADREC houses research space, conference rooms, offices, and a high bay area for pilot-scale projects. Construction began on the facility in September of 2009.

Pennsylvania State University will begin construction in fall of 2010 on the $48.1 million Biobehavioral Health Building in University Park, Pa. Providing additional facilities for the College of Health and Human Services, the 93,500-sf building will house classrooms, offices, research space, and a 200-seat lecture hall. The project architect is Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. The four-story building will feature "green" roofs and is slated for completion in July of 2012.

The University of Nevada, Reno’s Center for Molecular Medicine will open in September of 2010. Designed by Dekker/Perich/Sabatini, the $77 million facility will house research laboratories, containment suites, offices, an auditorium, and a vivarium for 40,000 mice. Ground was broken on the 116,500-sf project in March 2007. The facility will accommodate research in microbiology, pharmacology, and physiology.

Cornell University has selected Morphosis of Los Angeles to design the 100,000-sf William H. Gates Hall. Housing the departments of computer science and information science, the $60 million facility will feature research and teaching labs designed to foster interaction and collaboration. Completion is expected by early 2014.

Louisiana Tech University will break ground by December of 2010 on a 42,000-sf facility for the College of Business in Ruston. Supported by $12.4 million in state funding, the facility will house two auditoriums, classrooms, offices, computer labs, conference rooms, and research space. The project architect is Yeager, Watson and Associates of Alexandria, Va.

Purdue University will begin construction in September of 2010 on a $5.5 million renovation of Lilly Hall’s west wing. The project will upgrade HVAC systems and replace windows and the passenger elevator. The general contractor for the renovation is J.R. Kelly Co. Inc. of Lafayette, Ind. Completion is expected in July of 2011.

Connecticut College will renovate and expand New London Hall to create a state-of-the-art science center in New London, Conn. Designed by Payette, the $20 million project will provide 23,673 nsf of collaborative research and teaching space for the departments of computer science and life sciences. Groundbreaking is expected in spring of 2011 with occupancy in fall of 2012. The interdisciplinary facility will house research and teaching labs, classrooms, computer labs, a greenhouse, and an electron microscopy suite.