Higher Education

The University of Dubuque dedicated its newly renovated and expanded University Science Center on May 11, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa. The renovated 32,000-sf Goldthorp Hall and the 21,000-sf Mary Chlapaty Hall addition accommodate flexible technology-rich laboratories for geology, zoology, biology, microbiology, general and organic chemistry, nursing, and geographical information systems. The multi-level Walter and Barbara Peterson Atrium connects the two buildings and provides a gathering, study, and interaction space.

The University of Texas at Arlington is constructing a new 235,123-gsf engineering facility to house laboratories for research, teaching, computer science, and design, as well as faculty and graduate offices. The project, which will include selective renovation of three existing facilities, will also house labs and offices for the biomedical engineering department and a science and engineering library. The preliminary project cost is $80.4 million.

Hastings College has approved the design of the Morrison-Reeves Science Center. Comprised of 52,600 sf, the initial total project construction budget goal is between $7.5 million and $8 million. The building will provide classrooms, teaching laboratories, and office space for physics, chemistry, biology and psychology, as well as a greenhouse, animal suite, conference room and student lounge.

Three of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer and Scripps, are planning to construct a second science building across from the Keck Science Center in Claremont, Calif. Designed by SRG Partnership, the project is estimated to be at least 60,000 sf with 40,000 nsf of laboratory space. The multidisciplinary facility includes research and teaching laboratories for natural science, physics, biology, and chemistry. The project will include a vivarium and a greenhouse.

Nanyang Technological University is planning to develop a graduate bioengineering research center at it new campus near Buona Vista in Singapore. The projected facility will engage up to 200 investigators with a focus on biology, mathematics, and engineering in cross-disciplinary research. The center is expected to be developed in 2008.

Luther College broke ground on May 11, 2007, on the 64,000-sf Sampson Hoffland Science Laboratories and Research Center in Decorah, Iowa. Slated for completion in fall of 2008, the $20 million facility will house biology and chemistry facilities including 17 teaching labs, 21 faculty offices, collaborative faculty-student research areas, and 4,800 sf of student study space. The project will be constructed to LEED® sustainable design standards and will feature lighting controls and technologies to conserve energy including specialized HVAC systems.

Louisiana Tech University celebrated the opening of its $12 million biomedical engineering building in Ruston, La., in early May of 2007. The facility is connected to the Institute for Micromanufacturing and features technologically rich laboratories, classrooms, collaboration spaces, and faculty offices as well as an economic development incubator called the Humana Enterprise Center. Construction was completed in two years. Future plans for the university include a $25 million research park in Ruston.

Arkansas State University initiated construction on a $4.7 million, 24,000-sf health sciences building on its Mountain Home, Ark., campus in early May 2007. Housing programs in registered, certified, and practical nursing, phlebotomy, respiratory care, and emergency medical technician training, the facility is slated for completion by July 2008. The general contractor for the project is Samco Construction of Cabot.

Purdue University dedicated the $12.4-million Gerald D. and Edna E. Mann Hall on May 15, 2007. Located in Discovery Park in West Lafayette, Ind., the facility will provide offices for researchers and staff engaged in health care engineering, advanced manufacturing, cancer care, and homeland security systems.

Wayne State University broke ground on the $27.3 million Marvin I. Danto Engineering Development Center in midtown Detroit on May 2, 2007. The project will enable technology development for health care, biotechnology, and sustainable energy solutions. The three-story facility will be located next to the University’s existing College of Engineering and is slated for completion in fall of 2008.

West Virginia University will begin an $11 million renovation of its Engineering Sciences Building in Morgantown in May of 2007. The 33,000-sf project is comprised of a four-story addition including a two-story atrium, a 150-seat technology-rich lecture hall, a student learning center, teaching and research laboratories, and faculty offices. Additional office and lab space will be created in the renovated boiler room of the existing high-bay space. The project architect is Alpha Associates of Morgantown. Completion is slated for summer of 2008.

Drexel University has selected design firm Diamond + Schmitt Architects to design a new academic building at the heart of Drexel’s West Philadelphia campus. The $49-million facility will support the Department of Bioscience by providing state of the art learning spaces, 32 800-sf research laboratories, and nine 1,200-sf teaching labs. The five story, 28,500-sf building will also house the Steinbright Career Development Center which serves students and alumni in cooperative education and career placement.

Duke University is planning to construct the 120,000-sf Experimental and Collaborative Environment for Learning (EXCEL) for Pratt School of Engineering in Durham, N.C. Slated for completion in 2010, the project will feature "collaboratories," specialized facilities that combine laboratory and lecture space to enhance the intersection of education, research, and design experience.

Beloit College celebrated the groundbreaking of its $36.5 million Center for the Sciences in late April of 2007. The 116,000-sf facility will house 38 laboratories, 43 staff offices, and 12 classrooms. The project includes sustainable design features such as a vegetated roof, energy efficient technologies, and native plant landscaping. The Center houses a 1,500-sf atrium.

Norfolk State University dedicated the $35 million Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research in April 2007 on its Norfolk, Va., campus. The nanotechnology facility houses cleanrooms, laboratories, and offices and will be fully occupied by fall of 2007. The building is the first phase of a planned 25-acre technology project called the Research and Innovations to Support Empowerment (RISE) park.