New Construction
The University of Alabama at Birmingham recently announced that the first phase of construction on a new Science and Engineering Complex is complete, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Hoar Construction on the three-phase project, which will unite all of the university’s basic science undergraduate and graduate programs underneath one roof.
Facility Maintenance
Today’s higher education institutions are faced with a myriad of operational complexities in the pursuit of academic excellence. Staffing, student well-being, maintenance, sustainability, and operations management challenges have only been amplified by the pandemic, decreasing enrollments, aging infrastructure, and funding constraints. The operating environment of educational facilities has undoubtably become more stressful.
K–12 Infrastructure
Although the U.S. has officially declared an end to the COVID public health emergency, the concept of a healthy educational facility has taken on a new meaning, especially as Hurricane Hilary impacts daily life in Southern California, leaving flood watches and warnings in its wake.
Storm Shelters
Reliable storm shelters must include the engineering necessary to ensure safety, comply with required guidelines and create comfort during emergencies.
Campus Facilities
Florida Atlantic University’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter, Fla., recently announced the temporary closure of an academic building that was completed in Nov. 2022 and opened in January of this year, according to local news.
New Construction
The University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio, recently announced plans to demolish and replace campus landmark Crosley Tower, according to local news. The 16-story concrete structure is set for to come down beginning in January 2026 to make room for a new academic and research facility.
New Construction
The village of Boys Town, Neb., recently announced that the Boys Town Education Center has opened its doors to students in time for the fall 2023 semester, a news release reports. The town is a National Historic Landmark and serves as the headquarters of Boys Town, one of the largest non-profit childcare organizations in the U.S.
New Construction
Last week, the Waxahachie Independent School District near Dallas, Texas, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new STEAM school, according to a news release. The Wilemon STEAM Academy will have space for about 800 students in grades K–5 and was designed by VLK Architects.
Healthy Schools
Today’s K–12 leaders are tasked with everything from adhering to rigorous academic standards to implementing operational procedures to building healthy school communities, and for many, sustainability unintentionally falls to the bottom of the priority list. Further, the cost of taking on green initiatives is on the rise, making it even more of a challenge for financially strapped school districts to meet sustainability expectations and commitments.
- By Cheryl Aquadro
- 09/05/23
Campus Audio
Located in the heart of Washington state’s wine country, Whitman College in Walla Walla boasts an impressive academic record and an even more outstanding array of state-of-the-art facilities to attract and retain students and faculty.
New Construction
Longwood University in Farmville, Va., recently announced that construction work is complete on the Joan Perry Brock Center, according to a news release. The arena and convocation center measures in at 72,000 square feet, has a seating capacity of 3,020, and will play home to the university’s basketball program.
New Construction
The Boulder Valley School District in Boulder, Colo., recently broke ground on a new facility for New Vista High School, according to local news.
Campus Renovations
Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced the completion of the Logan Memorial Education Campus in the Logan Heights area of San Diego, Calif., according to a news release.
Healthy Schools
Extreme heat is becoming more and more of a problem during the early and late weeks of the school year. To prevent hot temperatures and poor air quality from being an issue for K–12 facilities, it’s important for school leaders to be proactive in their preparation.
- By Michael Schires
- 08/25/23
New Construction
Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., recently announced a construction initiative that will replace its existing library with a new Library Learning Commons, according to a news release.
Cybersecurity
The University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla., recently announced the launch of the Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute, which will focus on research to identify, test, and develop new cyber-workforce and cybersecurity solutions, according to a news release.
Campus Parking
The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently launched a new service to help the community pay for parking at meters and visitor lots around campus, according to a university news release.
Campus Security
Adrian Public Schools in Lenawee County, Mich., recently announced that it has deployed ZeroEyes’ AI gun detection solution to protect students, faculty, and staff against the backdrop of a rise in active shooter events, according to a news release.
Staffing
Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has promoted three of its staff members, according to a news release.
New Construction
The University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine, recently celebrated the opening of its first on-campus residence hall and a new parking garage, according to local news.
New Construction
Commercial real estate solutions provider Ryan Companies U.S., Inc., recently announced that it has completed four charter schools in the southeastern United States in time for the 2023–24 academic year.
New Construction
The Manor Independent School District in Manor, Texas, recently celebrated two ribbon-cutting ceremonies for two new schools opening just in time for the 2023–24 academic year, according to a news release.
Healthy Schools
Summer is flying by, which means a new school year is around the corner. As students begin to fill the hallways, so does an inevitable influx of germs and illnesses. A successful school year starts with creating a safe and healthy environment to welcome students back. Prepare your building for a new school year with these hygiene and cleaning recommendations.
- By Christiny Betsch
- 08/15/23
Campus Security
Ballistically protecting a school can be a daunting and complicated task. Focusing on practical best practices streamlines the process and makes your efforts more effective.
New Construction
The University of Alabama at Birmingham recently announced that it celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for the new home for its School of Engineering, according to a university news release.
Podcast
This episode’s guest is Lori Ferriss, architect with the Boston firm Goody Clancy and Chair of the AIA Committee on the Environment. We’ll discuss how colleges and universities can’t just build their way to net zero in the quest for carbon neutrality—it’s impossible to achieve carbon neutrality without reducing the operational emissions of existing buildings.
Indoor Air Quality
With the start of a new school year, the health & wellness of students, teachers, and school district employees has become—more than ever—a top priority and concern.
Campus Amenities
NC State University One Card offices face tough challenges trying to serve tens of thousands of students, faculty and staff. Every person needs an ID card to access various aspects of campus life, from entering residence halls and other buildings to linking to debit accounts and proving student status to participate in university activities. One Card office challenges include improving printer efficiency, reducing card waste, and eliminating the hassles of having to visit one central location to pick up cards.
- By Kratika Sangal
- 08/09/23
Campus Renovations
Construction firm Kraus-Anderson recently announced that work has begun on a $24-million renovation project for Central Middle School in White Bear Lake, Minn., according to a news release.
Faculty Housing
By championing affordable housing development for teachers, school districts can take a major step forward in ensuring the hiring and retention of the best faculty possible.
Funding
The University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, recently announced that it has received a $3-million gift that will go toward student scholarships and building out the university’s branch campus—Frisco Landing—in Frisco, Texas.
New Construction
The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., recently announced that construction has begun on a ten-year project that will lead to the replacement or renovation of 80% of on-campus residences, according to college news.
Campus Technology
If you’re purchasing a smart board for your school, you’re in luck. There are plenty of options out there. However, in my own purchasing experience as director of technology for Gladewater ISD, it came apparent rather quickly what interactive displays features meaningfully made a difference among competing smart boards.
Architects
Design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has hired a new educational learning designer, according to a news release. Former teacher and K–12 administrator Dr. Tim Shimp will offer his experience from the trenches to help provide high-impact, innovative, and engaging learning environments out of the firm’s Chicago office.
Campus Renovations
A junior high school in Illinois recently announced that construction has begun to expand its facility into a full-service, modern middle school, according to a news release.
Awards
Program management firm HPM recently announced that one of its recent projects—the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University—has been recognized by the South Atlantic Chapter of Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) as a 2023 Project Achievement Award winner.
Campus Renovations
Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn., recently announced that it has selected a construction and development firm for a $70-million renovation project on campus, according to local news. Skanska will spearhead the redevelopment of Clayton University Center, a two-year project that will involve revamping its facilities while also preserving historic elements and nuances of the building.
Campus Technology
Classroom technologies are vital to help today’s educators engage students, provide hybrid learning opportunities and enhance familiarity with new tools commonly deployed in modern work environments.
Campus Technology
Vocational and career training programs are among the most expensive educational programs to launch and operate. Among those, programs for the skilled trades such as electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration have traditionally had the greatest equipment and operational costs, as well as requiring the largest amount of space.
Sustainability
A 5.67 MW Solar Portfolio by DSD Renewables that is currently in use by the San Bernardino City Unified School District in California recently won the Top Project of the Year Award in the 2023 Environment + Energy Leader Awards program, according to a news release.
New Construction
The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) recently updated the public on the construction of a new K–12 Multi-School Campus in Garden City, Ga., according to local news. The facility will have the capacity for about 2,400 students and will welcome students from Groves High School, Mercer Middle School, and Gould Elementary School.
New Construction
Cranston Public Schools in Cranston, R.I., recently broke ground on a brand-new building for Gladstone Elementary School, according to a press release. The district partnered with architecture firm Finegold Alexander for the 100,000-square-foot facility that will consolidate two local elementary schools—Gladstone and Arlington Elementary School.
New Construction
The University of Delaware in Newark, Del., recently celebrated a “topping off” ceremony for its latest academic building—a 131,000-square-foot facility for the College of Arts and Sciences, currently known as “Building X,” according to local news.
New Construction
St. Louis Community College in Missouri recently celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Center for Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) at its Florissant Valley Campus, according to a college news release. The building will be the campus’ first new addition since 2011.
Construction Funding
The University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif., will receive $8.5 million in state funding to go toward the construction of a new facility for the College of Health and Community Well-Being in Ontario, Calif., according to a news release. The funds were part of Senator Susan Rubio’s 2023–24 budget for District 22 and were approved last week by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
New Construction
The Splendora Independent School District near Houston, Texas, recently announced that it has selected a program manager for a series of construction projects approved by voters in 2022 through a $201-million bond, according to a news release.
Sustainability
Achieving net zero is not an easy feat. The current state of educational institutions is more aptly described as approaching net zero.
New Construction
The Hopkins County Board of Education in Madisonville, Ky., recently announced that it will push back the start date of the 2023–24 academic year based on construction delays at a new elementary school, according to local news.
Awards
Spaces4Learning has announced the winners of its 2023 New Product Awards!
Campus Technology
The Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia, Penn., recently adopted solutions from ClearOne to provide educators with easy-to-use classroom systems that improve remote learner experiences and usability.