Higher Education

The University of Oregon in Eugene dedicated the $16 million Lorry I. Lokey Science Complex in February of 2008. The underground nanotechnology research laboratory is associated with the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute, a consortium that includes the University of Oregon, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, and nanoscience industry partners.

The University of Missouri broke ground in February of 2008 on a $2 million agricultural laboratory at the Greenley Research Center in Novelty, Mo. Part of a planned Learning and Discovery Park for life science partnerships, the project includes a separate conference center. The facility will be comprised of research laboratories, chemical handling and storage, and instrument storage. Completion is slated for late fall or early winter of 2008.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock began site work in February of 2008 on a six story facility for the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology (EIT). Construction will begin in earnest on the $30 million, 120,000-sf facility in summer of 2008. The expansion will be connected to the existing EIT building by a skywalk. The duration of construction is estimated at 18 months. The new facility will enable the University to consolidate engineering programs in a single location.

Engineers at the University of Maine unveiled a prototype of a blast-resistant wood building in February of 2008. Located at the Advanced Engineered Wood Composites (AEWC) Center in Orono, Maine, the facility is constructed with coating treatments applied to the construction material with a design methodology that enables the material to withstand blasts and weather conditions such as hurricanes. This innovation follows on the heels of AEWC’s development of ballistic tent panels for the U.S. Army in 2007.

Michigan State University (MSU) has selected SHW of Plano, Texas to design a 32,000-sf education facility in Dubai’s International Academic City (DIAC). The $2.5 million project will house MSU’s Construction Management, Family and Community Services, Communication Arts, and Computer Engineering programs. SHW designers are taking two floors of shell space in a new building through programming, conceptual design, schematic design, and design development, which includes mechanical, electrical and architectural development.

The University of Utah received $1.25 million from the Micron Technology Foundation to support the creation of a nanofabrication research and teaching laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah. The gift will support construction of a core nanofabrication facility in a 185,000-sf building under development for the new Utah Science, Technology and Research (USTAR) initiative. The nanofabrication laboratory, which will occupy 10 percent of the building, will be built with vibration-free cleanroom technology.

The University of Guelph received $9.5 million from the Ontario government in February of 2008 to create a primary care teaching hospital for the Ontario Veterinary College. The research and education facility will provide an enhanced clinical learning environment for small animal care and enable the college to expand training in nutrition, health and wellness. The University is also receiving $8.1 million to support energy efficiency, infrastructure, and safety improvements.

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will begin construction in early 2010 on a $90 million general research building. Located adjacent to UTMB’s Primary Care Pavilion, the laboratory and office building is slated for completion in 2012. The 140,000-sf facility will reach four to five stories high and will contain 76,000-sf of dedicated research space.

The University of Pennsylvania has selected SmithGroup to design the Neural and Behavioral Sciences (NBS) building in Philadelphia. Connecting to the existing Carolyn Lynch Laboratory, the facility will house teaching and research space for biology, psychology, and behavioral sciences. Creating a new gateway to the campus, the project will also include an auditorium and space for interdisciplinary programs to foster interaction and collaboration among researchers.

California State University, Fullerton initiated construction on January 23, 2008 on a “trigen” facility. Uniting the three functions of heating, cooling, and electricity, the plant will provide from four to 12 megawatts of electricity. Natural gas will turn a turbine to create electricity; heat generated in that process will power one of the chillers. The design-build contractor for the facility is DMJM Harris. Completion is expected in approximately one year.

Faulkner State Community College will begin construction in summer of 2008 on a three-story, $14 million facility housing nursing education and labs for biology, chemistry, physics, and microbiology on its Fairhope, Ala., campus. Designed by Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects, the 52,000-sf project will include a student center and space for a cinematography training program. Completion is expected in 2009 or 2010.

Kansas State University’s 113,000-sf Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI) in Manhattan, Kansas will provide training in biocontainment operations and maintenance in a March 2008 session. As part of the National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program, the session will support the Midwest Regional Center for Excellence, which is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Madison Area Technical College (MATC) dedicated its new $350,000 training laboratory for the Lab Animal Caretaker Program in February of 2008. The facility is owned by McAllen Properties and was built by Ruedebusch Development. Construction reached completion in November of 2007. The laboratory supports instruction in animal health, laboratory hygiene, veterinary terminology, and record keeping. MATC also offers a two-year animal technician program to provide qualified staff for local biotech and drug development companies such as Covance.

The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is planning a 1.4 million-sf life science park in Miami, Fla. Sited on 7.2 acres, the development will foster advances in translational research by building partnerships between private biotech and biomedical companies and University researchers. The project was in the design phase in January of 2008 with initial construction expected to begin in 2010.

Sacramento State University is planning a $97 million science complex in Sacramento, Calif. The project includes the Space and Science Center and the Science II building. To be constructed in two phases, the first phase consists of a 15,000-sf facility housing over 200 classrooms and a planetarium. Construction is expected to begin as early as 2009 and reach completion in 2011. The second phase is comprised of a 119,000-sf facility housing laboratories and the departments of chemistry, biology, mathematics, and statistics.