BGSU Breaks Ground on School of the Built Environment Facility

Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, held a groundbreaking ceremony last week for a new School of the Built Environment facility. Once complete, the building will play home to the construction management and architecture and environmental design programs. The project comes with a $10.4-million price tag and is scheduled for completion during the 2022-23 academic year.

The work includes a 22,900-square-foot expansion of an existing academic building on Park Avenue, which currently houses the architecture and environmental design program, and the new construction of an adjacent building. The new space will feature a 6,500-square-foot innovation lab for fabrication and construction classes, two digital labs, a materials and soils lab, classrooms and collaboration spaces.

“Having both programs under one location allows students in architecture and environmental design and construction management to learn from each other, which better prepares them for working on multidisciplinary teams,” said Dr. Joe B. Whitehead Jr., BGSU provost and senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. “It also allows our faculty to engage in collaborative research that will provide a deeper understanding of both fields, enhancing collaborative opportunities and driving student success.”

The School of the Built Environment is the only one of its kind in the state. BGSU also offers one of two Construction Management programs in Ohio and about 60 nationwide accredited by the American Council for Construction Education. The Park Avenue building had been previously renovated in 2014 to feature amenities like studios, a materials and reference library, a print room with plotters and laser cutters and an administrative suite for the architecture and environmental design program.

“As a public university for the public good, BGSU recognizes the importance of educating construction management students who understand design and architecture students who understand construction,” said BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers. “This innovative facility will increase collaboration in the School of the Built Environment, and it will better serve students, who will be prepared for productive careers and meet the workforce needs in Ohio and beyond.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • California District Debuts New High-School CTE Center

    The West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) in Sebastopol, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new CTE Center at Analy High School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) for the facility’s design and GCCI for its construction, and funding came from local Measure A bond funds.

  • nursing students talk while studying in a hallway

    Elsevier Launches VR Simulation Solution for Nursing Students

    Elsevier has introduced Shadow Health Lab with Virtual Reality, a simulation platform that allows nursing students to interact with virtual patients and build clinical judgment skills in a safe, realistic environment.

  • Washington State University Debuts New Engineering Hall

    Washington State University recently celebrated a dedication ceremony for the new Schweitzer Engineering Hall on its Pullman campus in Pullman, Wash., according to university news. The facility measures 66,288 square feet, and its completion marks the first milestone in a larger university effort to modernize the engineering and design district.

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.