Higher Education

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) broke ground on June 27, 2005 on a life sciences and bioengineering center in Worcester, Mass. Sited on a former industrial brownfield, the 14-story center is the first facility in a planned 11-acre life sciences development called Gateway Parklife sciences park. WPI's 124,600-sf center is slated for completion in early 2007 and will accommodate laboratories, support facilities, and a renovated industrial building housing meeting rooms and offices.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has awarded Gilbane the construction management contract for a new $64-million academic facility. Housing both the School of Business and the second phase of the School of Engineering, the project will be sited on VCU's Monroe Park Campus Addition in Richmond, Va. Comprised of approximately 260,000 gsf, the facility will house classrooms, laboratories, case study rooms, lecture halls, multi-media teaching facilities, a trading room, cafe, faculty and administrative offices, and support.

The University of Louisville is constructing the $14-million Community Park student housing facility on its Belknap Campus. Designed by Louisville-based Luckett & Farley, the four-story, 350-bed dormitory will feature private and double suites, as well as offices and meeting rooms for campus organizations. The general contractor is Messer Construction of Cincinnati. The project will be developed, owned and managed by Memphis-based Education Realty Trust. The facility is slated for completion in fall 2006.

Boise State University opened a new academic facility on its 150-acre West campus in Nampa, Idaho, in June 2005. The 65,600-sf building houses 14 classrooms (including a computer classroom); two distance learning classrooms; lab prep rooms for chemistry, biology, and physics; three teaching labs; a computer lab; offices for faculty, student services, and administration; a branch library; two conference rooms; a bookstore; and study lounges. The new building will accommodate classes in math, English, anthropology, biology, chemistry, and physics.

George Fox University  began the $4.1-million expansion and renovation of the Hoover Academic Building in Newberg, Ore. on July 5, 2005. Accommodating the University's new bachelor of science nursing program, the two-phase project was designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca of Portland. The general contractor is Robert Gray Partners with KPFF as structural engineer.

Texas Southern University is constructing two five-story parking garages on its Houston campus. Built by a joint venture of Cadence McShane Corp. and Diggs Construction , the $20.5-million project consists of two 340,000-sf garages accommodating 1,000 vehicles each. The first garage is currently under construction and will reach completion in December; the second will be completed in March 2006.

The University of Chicago will break ground in fall 2005 on its $160-million New Research Building. The ten-story, 300,000-sf facility will provide space for clinical research in the Biological Sciences Division. Additionally, the University of Chicago is nearing completion on the Center for Integrative Science in August 2005.

Texas Southern University in Houston will breaks ground on the new Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs building on June 23, 2005. The four-story, $15-million facility will house academic programs in public policy research, public affairs, and academic programs for the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences. Designed by Kirksey of Houston, the project will feature a new auditorium and is slated to complete construction in August 2006.

The Children's Museum is planning a 22,000-sf expansion of its 150,000-sf, six-story Boston facility. The two-story addition will include a new central entrance, lobby atrium, climbing structure, an "adventure center," and a "global gallery" accommodating traveling exhibitions. The museum will also renovate space throughout the existing facility. Construction is slated to begin in spring 2006 and reach completion in approximately 18 months.

Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center is planning a $120-million facility on its Wauwatosa, Wisc., campus. The 173,000-sf building is slated to begin construction in fall 2005 with completion expected in late 2007. Designed by OWP&P Architects of Chicago, the facility will maximize clinical space through a template of standard rooms that accommodate multiple activities from teaching and research to patient exams. The construction manager for the project is M.A.

The Birmingham City School District has begun construction on a new two-story, 265,000-sf high school in Ensley, Ala. The $31-million project includes 90 classrooms, a 450-seat cafeteria, an auditorium, administrative offices, a media center, competition and practice gymnasiums, a greenhouse, an auto-repair technology shop, a football stadium, and a multi-purpose practice field.

Pacific University will construct its 225,000-sf Health Professions campus on a half-acre site in Hillsboro, Ore. Slated to break ground on July 26, 2005, the school will be constructed in two phases over the next five years. The first 100,000-sf, $30-million phase is expected to open in fall 2006 and will house instructional spaces, a multidisciplinary clinic, dental science and pharmacy programs, student support, and space for the School of Professional Psychology.

The $150-million New Songdo National Aquarium will be constructed at the edge of New Songdo City's Central Park in South Korea. Described as the most modern aquarium in the world, the 200,000-sf facility will be designed with state-of-the-art "aquatecture" by Boston-based Chermayeff, Sollogub & Poole (CSP). Project manager International Design for the Environment Associates (IDEA), also of Boston, is a firm of international aquarium experts associated with CSP.

The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind has selected the Stellar Group to design, build, and provide construction management for the expansion and renovation of Gibbs Hall in St. Augustine, Fla. The $4.8-million project includes the construction of a covered walkway. The renovated 28,000-sf facility will accommodate career-specific training for blind students, classrooms, and teacher offices. Construction will commence on May 28, 2005, with project completion slated for November of the same year.

Camden County College is planning an $83 million project to rebuild more than fifty percent of its Blackwood, N.J., campus over the next six years. The Madison Hall Connector Building will be the first facility to be constructed, which will house the college's Center for Civic Leadership and Responsibility. Other new construction projects include a science facility, a student services building, an interactive classroom and atrium for public forums, and upgraded athletic fields.