Higher Education

The University of Lethbridge opened the CAD$280 million Science Commons in September of 2019 in Lethbridge, Alberta. Collocating the departments of biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and physics and astronomy, the transdisciplinary building provides flexible teaching and research labs, academic classrooms, meeting rooms, gathering areas, and a central atrium. Designed by Stantec and KPMB, the 387,500-sf facility includes a community education venue with interactive science displays.

The Air Force Research Laboratory will break ground in fall of 2019 on the $12 million Open Innovation Campus in Rome, N.Y. Located at Griffiss International Airport, the facility is being constructed in partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute, The Griffiss Institute, and Oneida County. The project includes the renovation of a three-story, 40,000-sf building to create leading-edge research space for the study of artificial intelligence and quantum information science.

The University of Cincinnati opened the $120 million Carl H. Linder School of Business in August of 2019. Designed by Henning Larsen Architects and KZF Design, the four-story, 225,000-sf building features a three-story atrium, a 250-seat auditorium, and a 150-seat, two-story lecture hall. The collaborative structure offers flexible classrooms of various sizes, research labs, exam and tutoring areas, numerous huddle and breakout rooms, a range of open workspaces, and over 160 faculty and staff offices.

Miami Dade College opened the $56 million Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation in September of 2019 in Miami. Designed by Kahler Slater and Harvard Jolly Architecture, the 132,000-sf facility features a simulation hospital with 15 patient rooms utilizing sophisticated mannequins for medical training. The five-story building also offers a CAVE virtual reality chamber, ten examination rooms, a home health apartment, an ambulance simulation suite, a physical therapy room, wet labs, and four student lounges.

Tarleton State University opened the $54 million Engineering Building in August of 2019 in Stephenville, Texas. Designed by Stantec, the 97,000-sf facility provides classrooms, labs, active learning rooms, and offices to support programs in computer science, engineering, and engineering technology. Featuring specialized spaces for robotics, prototyping, fluid dynamics, and materials testing, the three-story building includes a capstone workroom, a wind tunnel, a flume, and high-bay labs.

Multi-disciplinary project-based learning has changed how and where student activities occur, and institutions have responded by creating novel labs, teaching facilities, gathering areas, and maker spaces designed for students and faculty across diverse disciplines—engineering, life sciences, and liberal arts. A number of projects throughout the country highlight important design considerations—including location, flexibility, adaptability, and transparency—that suit new ways of learning and provide universities with opportunities for marketing and recruitment. Post-occupancy data from the University of North Carolina provides real-world findings that can help others improve the design of current and future maker spaces.

The University of Colorado Boulder opened the $101 million Aerospace Engineering Sciences Building in August of 2019. Designed by HCM (Hord Coplan Macht) and RATIO Architects, the collaborative 178,294-sf facility provides bioastronautics labs, high bay spaces, workshops, fabrication suites, interactive classrooms, faculty offices, a 200-seat auditorium, and an indoor flight environment for unmanned aircraft.

Temple University opened the $175.8 million Charles Library in August of 2019 in Philadelphia. Designed by Snøhetta and Stantec, the 220,000-sf facility features an automated storage retrieval system (ASRS) to access the 2.5 million volumes stored in the building. To encourage interaction and collaboration among students and faculty, the library includes an expansive three-story atrium, a café, and a zone that is open 24 hours a day.

Augusta University broke ground in August of 2019 on the $70 million College of Science and Mathematics in Augusta, Ga. Designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative, the 125,000-sf facility will provide teaching and research labs, offices, conference rooms, breakout spaces, student gathering and study areas, and a tutorial center. The interdisciplinary building is strategically sited on Augusta's Health Sciences Campus to provide opportunities for undergraduate research and promote collaboration.

Indiana State University opened the College of Health and Human Services in August of 2019 in Terre Haute, Ind. Collocating programs in nursing, social work, applied health science, and kinesiology and sports medicine, the collaborative 185,000-sf complex offers leading-edge facilities for education, training, and research. The first phase of the project was completed in 2018 and included construction of a four-story, 85,000-sf addition housing classrooms and offices.

The University of Strathclyde is working with government and industry partners to create the £65 million National Manufacturing Institute Scotland in Inchinnan. The 124,000-sf facility will house the Digital Factory 2050, the Manufacturing Skills Academy, the Innovation Collaboratory, and a business forum.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham opened the $39 million University Hall in August of 2019. Designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood, the 109,110-sf facility offers leading-edge learning environments for the College of Arts & Sciences. The two-wing structure houses the departments of anthropology, computer and information sciences, English, foreign languages and literatures, mathematics, philosophy, and social work. The technology-rich building provides spacious classrooms, a 300-seat auditorium, performance areas, and administrative offices.

St. Louis Community College opened the $39 million Center for Nursing & Health Sciences in August of 2019 in St. Louis. Designed by KAI Design & Build, the four-story, 96,000-sf facility offers teaching labs, classrooms, flexible learning spaces, and a dental clinic. Accommodating 11 health programs, the center will serve approximately 900 students and is expected to attain LEED Gold sustainable design certification.

Gonzaga University will begin construction in fall of 2019 on the $56 million Integrated Science and Engineering Building in Spokane, Wash. Designed by SRG Architects in association with Integrus, the collaborative 82,679-sf facility will physically connect to the PACCAR Center for Applied Science and Hughes Hall to create a campus nexus for STEM education.

The new Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences (EIS) complex at San Diego State University (SDSU) was developed to create a modern hub of STEM-focused lab facilities that will enhance the university’s reputation as a leading research institution capable of attracting top researchers and students in a variety of disciplines. The multi-wing complex includes seven engineering teaching labs and 17 interdisciplinary research spaces focused on wireless technologies, energy, and bio-medical engineering, as well as viromics (viral metagenomics)—the study of virus gene sequencing and virus protein structures—which was pioneered by researchers at SDSU. In addition to providing a shared research core, the facility houses an MRI suite and a future materials science imaging center. The complex will focus on everything from developing artificial limbs and wearable health sensors to improving drone technology and finding better ways to screen for harmful microbes. A collocated entrepreneurship center with product and business development support will help bring new technologies and products to market.