The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse opened the $82 million Prairie Springs Science Center in September of 2018. Designed by SmithGroupJJR and River Architects, the 187,000-sf facility houses the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Geography/Earth Science, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics, and River Studies, as well as accommodating the offices of the Dean of the College of Science and Health.
Bradley University is constructing the $100 million Business and Engineering Complex in Peoria, Ill. Featuring flexible learning spaces to promote interaction, the 270,000-sf facility will house the Foster College of Business, the Caterpillar College of Engineering and Technology, and the Institute for Innovation through Collaboration.
The University of Louisville opened the $80 million Belknap Academic Building in August of 2018 in Louisville, Ky. The four-story, 169,420-gsf facility provides 50 classrooms, including 20 state-of-the-art active learning classrooms. The building also houses a student success center, a multipurpose teacher space, 11 group study rooms, seven seminar rooms, six chemistry labs, four biology labs, three physics labs, an anthropology/physics lab, and several interaction lounges. Site work began on the project in September of 2016.
Indiana University School of Medicine dedicated the $70 million Stone Family Center for Health Sciences in August of 2018. Located in downtown Evansville, the four-story, 141,000-sf building was created in partnership with the University of Southern Indiana and the University of Evansville. The facility features a 150-seat auditorium, a spacious atrium, advanced simulation training suites, a dental clinic, classrooms, offices, and laboratories for teaching and research. Ground was broken on the project in October of 2015.
Universities and businesses have worked together for decades. Today, changes in funding and in STEM career paths have made those partnerships more attractive than ever—so attractive, in fact, that many institutions are planning new spaces specifically for them. With limits on government funding in recent years, and state and local funding stagnant, many institutions are seeing 25 to 30 percent of their research funding coming from outside sources, primarily private industry. That has led to more elaborate and specific consideration of industry partnerships as a part of strategic planning.
The University of Toronto opened the Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in September of 2018. Designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects and Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, the CAD$200 million project features a four-story atrium, TEAL classrooms for technology-enhanced active learning, design studios, fabrication and prototyping facilities, and a 468-seat auditorium.
The United Kingdom's Medical Research Council is planning to build the £75 million London Institute of Medical Sciences. Designed by Hawkins\Brown, the 110,000-sf project will provide collaborative biomedical research facilities including two CL-2 biocontainment labs, vibration-mitigated imaging suites, core biotechnology labs, write-up areas, and a data center. The nine-story facility is being created in partnership with Imperial College London and will accommodate up to 45 research groups currently dispersed around Hammersmith Hospital.
Montana State University opened the $18.2 million Rendezvous Dining Pavilion in August of 2018 in Bozeman. Offering eight serving stations, the 30,000-sf facility provides seating for 830 people, including a mezzanine level with a deck offering 100 outdoor seats. Housing sports lounges and a variety of interaction spaces, the pavilion features a 20-foot screen to accommodate game day gatherings and other events.
Exact Sciences broke ground in August of 2018 on its new corporate headquarters in Madison, Wis. Located in the University Research Park developed by UW Madison, the five-story, 138,000-sf Innovation One facility will be fully leased by Exact Sciences. The $60 million project was designed by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates and is being built by general contractor Findorff.
Texas Tech University is planning to build a $90 million facility for the School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo. Located at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, the two-building complex will include a clinical skills training center for large animal procedures. The school will accommodate 60 students per year for a total enrollment of 240 for the four-year program, as well as serving up to 200 graduate students who are not seeking a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Construction could begin as early as fall of 2019 with completion in fall of 2021.
Appalachian State University opened the $79 million Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences in August of 2018 in Boone, N.C. Designed by LS3P, the five-story, 203,000-gsf project provides consolidated teaching and research space for the Beaver College of Health Sciences.
Simon Fraser University is constructing the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering Program (SE3P) building in Surrey, British Columbia. Designed by Revery Architecture with Research Facilities Design as laboratory design consultant, the CAD$116 million fast-track project is being constructed with 330 precast concrete architectural components supplied by Surespan Structures.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will break ground in October of 2018 on a $29 million academic building in Terre Haute, Ind. Featuring a glass-walled atrium to showcase internal activities, the three-story, 60,000-sf facility will provide design studios, collaborative workspaces, faculty research suites, breakout rooms, and six flexible classrooms.
Iowa State University is planning a $28 million expansion of the Gerdin Business Building in Ames. Designed to enhance programmatic visibility, the collaborative 40,000-sf addition will provide classrooms, faculty offices, computer labs, study spaces, and a multipurpose atrium. The original structure was designed by ZGF Architects and completed in 2003. Construction will begin on the project in spring of 2019 with completion expected by 2021.
Memorial University is building the $325 million Core Science Facility in St. John's, Newfoundland. Designed by HOK Architects and Hearn Fougere Architects to promote integration and interaction, the multidisciplinary project comprises three tower blocks offering teaching and research labs, offices, and technology-rich learning environments for the departments of biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and electrical and computer engineering.
