Higher Education

There are positive signs that funding for scientific research will not only be maintained, but will once again increase. Earlier this month, the Senate Appropriations Committee overwhelmingly approved $36.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health for the upcoming fiscal year. If approved intact, it will mark the third consecutive year that the NIH receives a $2 billion increase. The House Appropriations Committee already approved a $1.1 billion increase.

Saint Paul College opened the $20 million Health and Science Alliance Center in September of 2017 in St. Paul, Minn. Designed by Bentz/Thompson/Rietow and Oliver & Associates with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the four-story, 45,000-sf facility provides two flexible classrooms for STEM and health science programs, four science labs, two simulation labs, three general classrooms, and three classrooms supporting industry partnerships.

Rhodes College dedicated the $34 million Robertson Hall in late August of 2017. Designed by Hanbury to support an interactive, experiential pedagogy, the 55,000-sf science facility houses six teaching labs, five research labs, two classrooms, faculty offices, and collaborative study areas. The sustainably designed building features automated LED lighting, sophisticated building systems, and areas with floor-to-ceiling glazing.

The University of Oklahoma is constructing the 70,000-sf Gallogly Hall in Norman. Housing the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, the facility will provide advanced classrooms, teaching and research labs, group meeting areas, a makerspace, a rooftop terrace, and an interaction lounge. Comprising four stories and a basement level, the building will also house the offices of the Diversity and Inclusion program. Ground was broken on the project in April of 2017 and occupancy is expected in September of 2019. 

Providence College is engaged in a $50 million expansion and renovation of the Albertus Magnus Science Complex in Providence, R.I. Designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative, the project includes construction of a three-story, 36,000-gsf addition that will act as a new front entrance, and renovation of 70,000 gsf in three existing buildings accommodating programs in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, physics, and psychology.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) recently completed the construction and fit-out of their new Life Science Laboratories after receiving a $95 million grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC)—a quasi-state agency dedicated to growing the state’s life sciences industry. The new interdisciplinary research wing features state-of-the-art equipment and core resources that will be shared across multiple research teams and industry partnerships. While the new core labs were built into a pre-existing shell with an open floorplate and operational MEP, the final design was driven by the cost-intensive equipment list. Since the agency grant designated a specific amount of funding for the equipment, the type of equipment was known but exact model and vendor was not known before many of the other design and programming decisions were made. 

Wentworth Institute of Technology is building the $55 million Multipurpose Academic Building on its Boston campus. Designed by Leers Weinzapfel Associates Architects, the 75,000-sf facility will provide classrooms, labs, lecture halls, meeting rooms, and collaborative teaching and learning spaces. The four-story building will accommodate programs in biomedical, biological, and civil engineering, as well as housing the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. The construction manager for the project is Gilbane Building Company.

Colorado State University broke ground in August of 2017 on the $23.3 million Health Education Outreach Center in Fort Collins. Designed by Hord Coplan Macht to promote interaction and collaboration, the four-story, 39,600-sf facility will provide advanced teaching labs for anatomy and neuroanatomy, study areas, and space for community events. The project team includes Research Facilities Design as laboratory design consultant and general contractor Haselden Construction.

The South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory broke ground in August of 2017 on a $58 million expansion and renovation of its Brookings facility. Located on the campus of South Dakota State University, the project includes 81,000 sf of new construction, including 3,762 sf of BSL-3 space and BSL-2E necropsy space. The existing laboratory space will subsequently be renovated. The project will support diagnostic testing and vaccine development for the prevention of infectious diseases. Completion is expected in 2020.

Portland State University and Oregon Health and Science University are partnering to create an academic health center in Portland. The $100 million facility will house the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, PSU’s Graduate School of Education, a dental clinic for Portland Community College, and offices for the city of Portland. Construction will begin in fall of 2017 on the nine-story, 200,000-sf facility. Completion is expected in 2020. 

The University of Arizona is constructing the $107.5 million Bioscience Research Laboratories (BSRL) building in Tucson. Supporting collaborative translational research on the molecular basis of human health, aging, and disease, the four-story, 100,000-sf facility will provide wet labs, imaging suites, a genomics core, and space for informatics.

Inspired by the pioneering vision of alumnus Norm Asbjornson, Montana State University is changing the way engineering students are taught by providing a hands-on active learning environment that fosters collaboration across multiple disciplines and puts science on display. Construction of the three-story, 110,000-sf building began in December 2016, after a comprehensive planning and design stage that spanned 28 months. The $38 million building, designed to anticipate and respond to emerging trends in education and industry, is slated for completion in November 2018, with the first classes taking place in January 2019. A $12 million parking garage will add 550 stalls.

Howard Community College opened the $76.7 million Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) Building in August of 2017 in Columbia, Md. Designed by Ayers Saint Gross, the 145,300-sf facility provides dedicated labs for programs in engineering, genetics, geology, computer forensics, cybersecurity, and plant science. The project accommodates 1,000 classroom seats and offers study areas for groups and individuals.   

Colorado State University opened the $70 million Biology Building in August of 2017 in Fort Collins. Designed by Hord Coplan Macht to foster interaction and collaboration, the four-story, 155,000-sf facility provides technology-enhanced classrooms, teaching and research labs, a lecture hall, faculty offices, and collaboration spaces. The four-story structure features highly efficient building systems and has attained LEED Gold certification.

Solano Community College opened its $34.5 million biotechnology training building in August of 2017 in Vacaville, Calif. Designed by SmithGroupJJR with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 32,200-sf facility supports a four-year degree program in biotech manufacturing. Strategically sited adjacent to Genentech’s Vacaville campus, the building features simulated production suites for immersive education and training. The general contractor was Rudolph & Sletten.