Strategic Plans

Auburn University will begin construction in spring of 2019 on the $94 million Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center in Auburn, Ala. Accommodating programs in hospitality management, the 142,000-sf complex will include a boutique hotel, a restaurant, a food hall, a wine appreciation center, a micro-distillery, a brewing science lab, a culinary exhibition lab, a food and beverage media studio, a rooftop swimming pool, and six leasable residences.

Johns Hopkins University is planning to create an interdisciplinary academic hub on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Designed by Ennead Architects with SmithGroup as architect of record, the project includes the transformation of the former Newseum facility to provide a home for the School of Advanced International Studies, as well as offering space for the Carey Business School, the School of Nursing, and the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.

Collin College is building a 339,000-sf campus in Wylie, Texas. Designed by Page Southerland Page to provide dynamic and flexible learning environments for programs in science, engineering, information technology, fine arts, education, and health care, the project comprises three multi-story instructional facilities including a student center, a campus commons, and a library.

Virginia Tech is planning to build a $1 billion innovation campus in Alexandria. Strategically sited near Amazon's new National Landing headquarters, the project will provide one million square feet of teaching and research space for graduate programs in computer science, software engineering, data analytics, cybersecurity, and technology and policy. The campus will also include residential amenities and space for collaboration with industry partners. The development team includes the City of Alexandria and Stonebridge Associates. 

Peking University is planning to construct a 169-acre campus for research and development in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Supporting interdisciplinary programs in computer science and engineering, the project will represents a significant expansion of Peking University's existing footprint into the Changping district. Artificial intelligence is a central theme of the country's Made in China 2025 initiative which aims to develop the knowledge and talent base to support an internationally competitive manufacturing industry.

Mayo Clinic is planning a $648 million expansion of its Phoenix medical facilities. The Arizona Forward Project will add 1.4 million square feet to the existing 1.7 million-sf campus, increasing the number of inpatient beds from 280 to 374. A six-story patient tower will be constructed offering an outpatient surgery center, clinical offices, inpatient rooms, and rehabilitation space. The emergency department will be housed in a new three-story structure that will also accommodate laboratory medicine, radiology, and pharmacy.

Vermeulens has released its market outlook report for the second quarter of 2018. Key points include:

Construction price escalation nationally has trended to 4 percent per annum for the second quarter of 2018. Due to consistent increases in construction costs over the past few years, the long-term trend for the Vermeulens Index is up to 3.4 percent from 3.3 percent.  

While the term “strategic facility planning” is often used generically to refer to a variety of initiatives, it is actually a unique discipline with a distinct meaning, says Debora Hankinson, architect and director of Strategic Facility Planning at CRB Consulting. As an end product, a strategic facility plan (SFP) is the overarching document that sets the direction for all further planning activities, from master (or campus) planning to the tactical steps of capital projects planning, move management, and deferred maintenance planning.

Vermeulens has released its market outlook report for the fourth quarter of 2017. Key points include:

Purdue University broke ground in January of 2018 on an $86 million apartment complex in West Lafayette, Ind. Providing 835 beds, the three-building, 387,000-sf project will be built by a joint venture of Balfour Beatty, Walsh Construction, and Smoot Construction. Completion is expected by August of 2019.

Harvard University is planning to develop the 900,000-sf Enterprise Research Campus in the Allston district of Boston. The 36-acre project will provide teaching, research, and residential facilities in a mixed-use setting that will include business incubators, space for private companies and nonprofits, and public green areas. The first phase of development will create 400,000 sf of office and lab space, 250,000 sf of rental housing, and 250,000 sf of conference and hotel space on a 14-acre site. 

The University of Notre Dame opened Campus Crossroads in fall of 2017 in Notre Dame, Ind. The $400 million project included the construction of three buildings adjacent to Notre Dame Stadium: O’Neill Hall, Corbett Family Hall, and Duncan Student Center. The project provides over 800,000 sf of classrooms, labs, meeting rooms, event venues, and performance spaces designed for integration with game-day activities at the renovated stadium.

Vermeulens has released its market outlook report for the second quarter of 2017. Key points include:

The University System of New Hampshire has selected Sightlines to perform a comprehensive Facility Condition Assessment and lifecycle study of core buildings on the four campuses that comprise the system, which includes approximately 9.6 million gsf of educational facilities and supporting infrastructure.

At the inception of a new interdisciplinary science building, bricks-and-mortar considerations must take a back seat to a big-picture view of issues related to organization, funding, governance, and the long-range vision of the institution. The resolution of these issues early on leads to projects that are more successful—not necessarily in terms of cost savings, but in the essential criterion of aligning a new facility with specific academic strengths and the broader institutional mission.