Research and Development

The University of Wisconsin-Madison broke ground in April of 2023 on a $260 million facility for the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. Designed by LMN Architects and Kahler Slater, the 342,990-sf project will act as a beacon of innovation for Wisconsin’s growing tech ecosystem while meeting an increased demand for programs in robotics, cybersecurity, software design, and machine learning.

Dallas County Health and Human Services is planning to construct the $52 million Public Health Laboratory in the growing Southwestern Medical District. Designed by Page, the 75,000-sf structure will provide BSL-3 environments for the detection and mitigation of infectious disease agents and toxins. Centralizing lab services previously dispersed in several locations, the state-of-the-art building will utilize robust ventilation systems to ensure the safe handling of potentially hazardous and pathogenic materials.

The Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine will break ground in summer of 2023 on a $375 million research complex in the Oxford in the United Kingdom. Designed by Foster & Partners, the highly collaborative campus will enable teams of investigators and physicians to reimagine cancer treatment while enhancing overall human health.

The University of Arizona opened the $85 million Applied Research Building April of 2023 in Tucson. Collocating investigators from four colleges and eight departments, the three-story, 89,000-sf structure offers state-of-the-art laboratories for engineering, applied physical sciences, and advanced manufacturing.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory opened the $86 million Integrated Engineering Research Center in April of 2023 in Batavia, Ill. Designed by Perkins+Will with Arup as as structural & MEP engineer, the 80,000-sf facility collocates engineers, technicians, and scientists at the heart of Fermi's campus. Providing next-generation infrastructure for advanced particle physics, the flexible and modular building features reconfigurable labs, design studios, and testing suites.

Texas A&M University will break ground in summer of 2023 on the $150 million Law & Education Building in Fort Worth. Designed by Stantec and Pelli Clarke & Partners, the 225,000-gsf facility will provide flexible classrooms and teaching labs for courses in business, engineering, law, and health sciences. The nine-story structure will also include maker spaces and research labs that can be used by the public and private sectors for academic programs, workforce training, and collaborative discovery.

Repurposing non-research facilities to house specialized life sciences and therapeutics labs is a growing trend sparked by real estate inventory and the fiscal practicality of renovation rather than new construction. The vacancy rate throughout the United States for lab space in the fourth quarter of 2022 was 6 percent versus 19.5 percent for office space, according to the Jones Lang LaSalle real estate transparency index. The vacancy rates for 2021 were less than 4 percent for labs and approximately 15 percent for offices.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore opened the Pharmacy and Health Professions Building in April of 2023 in Princess Anne, Md. Designed by Shepley Bulfinch and Ayers Saint Gross, the 120,000-sf facility features state-of-the-art teaching labs and simulation spaces for the School of Pharmacy, as well as accommodating courses in kinesiology, physician assistance, and physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Life science laboratories are increasingly embracing the idea of moving into high-rise settings in city centers, filling space in new construction, or renovating office space left vacant, in part, by the many companies opting to continue to work from home following the pandemic. High-rise laboratories in urban settings offer many advantages related to recruiting top talent, the ease of city amenities, and abundant transportation options, says Matthew Decker, AIA, architect for CRB in Plymouth Meeting, Penn. But they also pose challenges, including strict building codes for hazardous materials, and infrastructure concerns that can affect placement of lab equipment, HVAC systems, and utilities.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is constructing the 65,000-sf Hamilton and Amabel James Center for Artificial Intelligence and Human Health in New York. Designed by HOK, the project includes the redevelopment of a former nursing residence into a world-class research hub that will drive innovation in genomics, precision imaging, and multiscale disease modeling. The 12-story facility will become the first of its kind within a U.S. medical school when it opens in late 2023. 

The United States Air Force Academy is constructing the $58 million Madera Cyber Innovation Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Designed by AECOM, the 49,000-sf building will strategically collocate the academy's Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences, the Air Force's CyberWorx center, and the Department of Homeland Security's Center of Innovation.

Emory University opened the $313 million Health Science Research Building II in March of 2023 in Atlanta. Designed by HOK, the 350,000-sf facility provides world-class research environments for a range of specialties including biomedical engineering, cardiovascular medicine, oncology, inflammation, immunology, and emerging infections.

Western Washington University broke ground in March of 2023 on the $73.6 million Kaiser Borsari Hall in Bellingham. Designed by Perkins&Will, the 54,000-sf structure will accommodate the school's growing programs in computer science, electrical engineering, and energy science and technology. The four-story building will provide active learning classrooms, teaching and research labs, offices, breakout areas, a multicultural student lounge, and a collaborative commons. 

Sterling Bay completed construction in March of 2023 on a 320,000-sf life sciences center in Chicago. Designed by Gensler to promote collaboration and innovation, the eight-story building provides Class A lab and office environments in the heart of the planned Lincoln Yards mixed-use district. With 33' by 40' column-free bays, the 285,000-rsf project offers flexible floorplates of approximately 42,000 sf supported by two dedicated outdoor air systems.

Wesleyan University is constructing a four-story, 190,000-sf science building in Middletown, Conn. Designed by Payette, the inclusive and accessible facility will provide 39 research and support labs, 10 classrooms, nine teaching labs, a vivarium, and a greenhouse. A central commons will act as a welcoming destination for informal interaction and study, accompanied by a café, an enclosed courtyard, and a landscaped plaza.