CannonDesign Releases Infographic to Better Help Universities Obtain More R&D Funding

WASHINGTON, DC – CannonDesign, a global design firm ranked among the top 10 S&T design firms in the world, has released a new infographic that helps universities wanting to obtain more R&D funding navigate the federal grants process.

Funding challenges are a major concern for many institutions around the United States. Institutions are tasked with securing hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in grants each year to continue their important R&D work. 

“We realized during our research that there were two roadblocks for universities when applying for grants,” says Stephen Blair, CannonDesign's executive director of Science and Technology. “The first roadblock was that universities sometimes overlook grants offered through different federal agencies.” A total of 14 federal agencies support R&D funding through facilities construction, renovation and major capital equipment, including some not commonly known for grant funding, including the Department of Agriculture and NASA.

“The second roadblock for many universities is navigating the design requirements necessary to prove their facility will remain viable to conduct the research within,” says Blair. “I've seen universities try and use their undergraduate architect students to design a preliminary facilities plan, and this never turns out well.”

For construction, renovation and equipment grant applications, the requirements include engineering criteria, architectural criteria, line drawings, timelines, construction documents, equipment plans, operating budgets and more. With hundreds of institutions competing for a limited amount of funding, the way you present the facility design plays a pivotal role in setting the top applications apart from the rest.

CannonDesign has created an infographic of their research findings including the top grants and their issuing agencies as well as more information about the design requirements necessary for a successful application. Download the free infographic here: www.cannondesign.com.

Featured

  • Construction Begins on New University Research Vessel

    Boat-building company All American Marine recently announced that it has begun construction on a new catamaran research vessel for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) in Port Aransas, Texas, according to a news release.

  • Homewood-Flossmoor High School NetZero Addition

    Homewood-Flossmoor High School NetZero Addition

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Homewood-Flossmoor High School NetZero Addition has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Higher Ed is Betting on New Buildings While Quietly Undermining Their Campuses — Here’s Why

    In this climate, the owner’s representative has changed from a delivery-focused advisor to a strategic campus partner. Institutions are increasingly relying on owner’s reps not just to manage, cope, schedule, and budget, but also help evaluate whether a project should proceed at all.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.