Industry News


Bitec Announces Merger with Viking Products Group

Roofing contractor Bitec recently announced that it will merge with Viking Products Group to expand the organizational efficiencies and sales distributions of both organizations, according to a news release. Roofing contractor and distributor customers will gain access to a wide array of roofing materials with benefits like recycled materials and a design allowing for ease of installation.

University of Miami Completes Renovations to Student Center

The University of Miami recently announced that renovations to its Student Village on the second floor of the Whitten University Center are complete, according to a news release. The Student Village plays home to departments and suites for student groups and organizations including the Veterans Resource Center, the LBGTQ+ Student Center, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, and more.

University of California, Riverside Breaks Ground on $285M Student Housing Facility

The University of California, Riverside recently broke ground on a new student housing project on its campus, according to a news release. The North District Phase 2 Student Housing Development will measure in at 424,000 square feet and cost an estimated $285 million.

California High School Breaks Ground on New Student Union Building

Hollister High School, part of the San Benito High School District (SBHSD) in Hollister, Calif., recently broke ground on a new student union building, according to a news release. The new facility will provide the school’s 3,500 students with multipurpose gathering spaces, food service area, and state-of-the-art kitchen.

Texas K–12 District Utilizes Federal Grant Money for VR Equipment

The San Isidro Independent School District in south Texas recently announced that it used a federal grant program to purchase virtual reality (VR) headsets for its middle- and high-school students, according to a news release.

University of Evansville Debuts Mental Health and Wellness Clinic

The University of Evansville in Evansville, Ind., recently celebrated a dedication ceremony for its new Mental Health and Wellness Clinic, according to a news release. The new facility includes the Emily M. Young Assessment Center, which provides advanced therapy and assessment services to the university and local community.

Massachusetts Charter School Breaks Ground on New Academic Building

The Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School in Marlborough, Mass., recently broke ground on a new 17,000-square-foot academic building, according to a news release. The facility will offer additional classroom and science lab space for the campus, which serves students in grades 6–12.

VLK Architects Adds New Principal to Houston Office

VLK Architects recently announced that it has added a new principal, David Valerius, to the staff of the VLK Houston office, according to a news release. Valerius has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Texas Tech University and more than 30 years of architectural experience in the commercial and educational verticals.

Construction Begins on New Campus for California Community College

The design-build team of Blach Construction, Quattrochi Kwok Architects, and Gensler recently began construction on a brand-new campus for the Gavilan Joint Community College District in Hollister, Calif., according to a news release. Gavilan was originally founded in Hollister in 1919.

University of Tulsa Opens State’s Largest Starbucks

The University of Tulsa recently opened the largest Starbucks in the state of Oklahoma, according to a university news release.

California State University, Northridge Starts Construction on New Student Housing

California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in Northridge, Calif., recently began construction on a new student housing complex that will add room for 198 beds to its campus, according to a news release. The project consists of two four-story buildings and will cost an estimated $55.7 million. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2025.

Let There Be Proper Light for Learning

Creating the right environment is essential to maximizing a child’s learning potential, and a critical part of that environment is the right lighting system. Unfortunately, the lighting system at St. Augustine Catholic School in Richmond, Mich., was failing both its students and teachers.

FAU Breaks Ground on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla., recently broke ground on a new facility for the College of Arts and Letters, according to local news. Construction on the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will begin in early 2024 and is scheduled for completion in February 2025.

REMEDI8 Spotlights Dust Control Mobile Containment Unit

Fire protection and compliance solutions provider REMEDI8 recently spotlighted one of its dust containment units for use in construction and other heavy-debris environments, according to a news release.

University of Kentucky Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Health Education Building

The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently broke ground on its new Health Education Building, according to a news release. The 500,000-square-foot facility will be the largest academic building in university history and house programs from the colleges of medicine, health sciences and nursing, and public health, as well as the Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education. The building is projected to open in 2026.

VLK Breaks Ground on New Athletic Complex for Arlington ISD

The Arlington Independent School District in Arlington, Texas, recently broke ground on a new athletic complex designed by VLK Architects, according to a news release. The Michael Glaspie Field Athletic Complex is the district’s third competition field and will be funded through a bond package passed in 2019.

Carnegie Releases Full Spectrum Collection

Sustainable textiles and acoustical management solutions provider Carnegie recently launched a new series of fabrics called the Full Spectrum Collection, according to a news release. The series features 45 colors and patterns across a variety of price points that were designed for use in commercial spaces and offer high degrees of performance, style, and durability.

Iowa State University Finishes Construction of On-Campus Solar Farm

Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, recently gained a new 1,375-MW solar farm on its campus through a partnership with Alliant Energy, according to a news release. Alliant installed 3,300 solar panels on campus that will generate energy and provide opportunities for education, agriculture research, and more.

University of Hawaii at Mānoa Begins Construction on Student Housing Facility

The University of Hawaii at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawaii, recently completed the first phase of construction on a new housing facility for graduate students, according to a university news release. Groundbreaking for the Residences for Graduate Students took place on Oct. 4, and the project will cost an estimated $170 million.

Tennant Launches Two New Walk-Behind Floor Scrubbers

Cleaning equipment and solutions provider Tennant Company recently launched two new products—the T260 and the T391—to add to its fleet of walk-behind floor scrubbers, according to a news release. The products will be available to order in October 2023.

Nevada K–12 District Becomes First in U.S. to Achieve UL Verified Ventilation, Filtration Mark

HVAC and air-cleaning systems performance testing solutions provider SafeTraces recently announced that the Clark County School District (CCSD) in Nevada has become the first public school district in the U.S. to achieve the UL Verified Ventilation & Filtration (VVF) annual verification mark in its portfolio of facilities, according to a news release.

Digital Edition