Sustainability

The University of Arizona is building the $165 million Health Sciences Innovation Building in Tucson. Designed by CO Architects, the ten-story, 226,000-sf facility will feature simulation training suites for programs in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and public health. A minimum of LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the fast-track project, which will also provide clinical laboratories and a variety of group learning areas.

Bucks County Community College opened its $17 million Science Center in January of 2017 in Newtown Township, Pa. Designed by KCBA Architects to support STEM programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the 43,000-sf facility provides four student collaboration spaces and ten laboratories, including a biotechnology suite with adjoining rooms for instrumentation and tissue culture. The two-story center utilizes glass walls to enhance visibility and features a geothermal heating and cooling system.

Mount Wachusett Community College opened the $41 million Daniel M. Asquino Science Center in December of 2016 in Gardner, Mass. Supporting STEM programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the project included construction of a 44,000-gsf addition providing classrooms, faculty offices, study spaces, and teaching labs for biology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, earth science, and anatomy and physiology. The existing Arthur F. Haley Academic Center was also renovated and an adjacent 2,300-sf greenhouse was built.

Skidmore College is planning to build the $100 million Center for Integrated Sciences in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Designed by Payette, the 200,000-sf project will support programs in biology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience, psychology, geoscience, environmental science, mathematics, computer science, and health and exercise science.

Imperial College London began construction in early 2017 on the £70 million Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub in London. Designed by Allies & Morrison, the collaborative 14-story building will provide flexible laboratories, an outpatient clinic, an auditorium, and interaction spaces. Located on the White City campus, the 215,000-sf translational research facility will be built to attain BREEAM sustainable design certification and will feature a highly efficient service model with interconnected utility plants on each floor.

The University of California, Irvine began construction in December of 2016 on the $46 million Anteater Learning Pavilion. Designed by LMN Architects, the 70,000-sf project includes a two-story structure with two active-learning lecture halls and a three-story structure with classrooms, offices, and interaction space. The collaborative facility is illuminated by abundant natural light and will offer a variety of interaction areas and reconfigurable spaces.

The University of Calgary opened the CAD$174 million Canadian Natural Resources Limited Engineering Complex in November of 2016 in Alberta, Canada. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the expansion project comprises a 197,000-sf addition and 119,000 sf of renovated space for the Schulich School of Engineering. The collaborative facility features a programmable dynamic view glass façade and provides two new floors of research laboratories for the study of renewable energy resources and the development of clean energy technologies.

Adelphi University celebrated the opening of the $76 million Nexus Building in December of 2016 in Garden City, N.Y. Designed by Ballinger, the collaborative 100,000-sf facility houses the College of Nursing and Public Health, the Center for Health Innovation, and a hub for core student services. The project also provides clinical simulation suites, research and informatics laboratories, and over 15 contemporary learning spaces.

The University of New Mexico is building the third phase of the Domenici Center for Health Science Education in Albuquerque. Designed by Dekker/Perich/Sabatini, the $27.3 million project will house the Interprofessional Healthcare Simulation Center and classrooms for active learning, problem-based learning, and general education. Illuminated by abundant natural light, the three-story, 63,000-nsf facility will support a variety of health science programs including nursing, pharmacy, and physical and occupational therapy.

The University of Virginia Health System is expanding and renovating its Charlottesville hospital. Designed by Perkins+Will, the LEED Silver project includes construction of a 15-story, 531,000-sf tower and renovation of 86,000 sf of existing space. Site work began in June of 2015, and Skanska USA was awarded the $142 million construction management contract in December of 2016.

Merck has selected Alexandria Real Estate Equities to develop a biopharmaceutical R&D facility in South San Francisco, Calif. Construction will begin in early 2017 on the nine-story, 294,000-rsf building, the entirety of which will be leased by Merck. Designed by DGA to accommodate up to 300 scientists engaged in collaborative, multidisciplinary research, the facility will provide laboratories, offices, a 300-seat auditorium, a café, and a fitness center.

An increase in funding streams for interdisciplinary research coupled with major advances in computational research are driving bioengineering and integrated life sciences and engineering program growth. “Increasingly, universities are engaging in interdisciplinary research—that’s where the exciting problems are, and that’s what funding agencies are funding,” says Dr. Stephen Director, provost emeritus of Northeastern University in Boston. “We have found that our existing facilities don’t easily support that.”

The University of Missouri–St. Louis opened the $35 million Science Learning Building in November of 2016. Designed by Christner, the four-story, 75,000-sf facility features 18 technology-rich teaching labs, seven study areas, a café, and a solarium town center connecting to the adjacent science complex. General contractor K&S Associates broke ground on the sustainably designed project in October of 2013.

The National University of Singapore broke ground on the Net-Zero Energy Building in November of 2016. Designed by Multiply Architects and Serie Architects, the six-story, 91,644-gsf facility will provide research labs, design studios, workshops, a test-bedding façade, and collaborative learning spaces. The building will be constructed as a living laboratory for sustainable design and will feature hybrid cooling technologies, 1,200 photovoltaic panels, and natural lighting and ventilation.

High-performance buildings are designed with the innovative features and advanced technology necessary to sustain peak operating efficiency, but they frequently fail to live up to their full potential, due to a number of factors: inadequate staffing; a lack of correctly configured technology; and a lack of proper instruction, capabilities, and skill sets of employees. Incorporating a process of building optimization can prevent these shortcomings.