Industry News


"ViralBarrier" from Precise Tooling Solutions is intended specifically for K-12 and higher education use.

"Viral Barrier" Provides Physical Distancing Shield

"ViralBarrier" from Precise Tooling Solutions is intended specifically for K-12 and higher education use.

Hy-Lite

Furniture and Equipment

Rolling Privacy Panels Facilitate Physical Distancing

U.S.-based Hy-Lite said its new panels are made of architectural-grade acrylic blocks that allow light through while protecting privacy.

Reopening Schools

Rural Wisconsin Districts Seek Early School Start

Rural school districts in Wisconsin have asked the state to begin school earlier than usual citing concerns that the pandemic has interfered with student progress.

LA and San Diego Schools to Hold Online-Only Classes in The Fall

Los Angeles Unified School District and San Diego Unified School District announced they will not reopen for in-person classes next month due to increasing COVID-19 cases.

Reopening

Texas Education Agency Issues Guidelines for Reopening Schools

School districts must offer daily on-campus instruction for all students who wishes to attend, but any parent may request for their child to receive virtual instruction from any school that offers such instruction.

Health Sciences Facilities

U North Florida Gets $6 million to Start Setting up "MedNexus"

The University of North Florida has received $6 million in the latest state budget to build what the university has named the UNF MedNexus. The intent is to create an operation that connects regional healthcare providers with university students, faculty and researchers.

Stevens College of Tech Expanding Footprint with New Diesel School. Source: Greenfield Architects

Stevens College of Tech Expanding Footprint with New Diesel School

Construction has begun on a new facility that will be leased by a Pennsylvania college. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is expecting to move into the new building by June 1, 2021.

Reopening

Texas A&M Converting Sports Venues, Other Facilities into Class Spaces

Texas A&M said it would convert non-traditional spaces into classrooms for the fall semester, which starts on Aug. 19.

E.J. Whitmire Stadium at Western Carolina University, in busier days. Source: Western Carolina University

Sports Facilities

Western Carolina U Chooses Woolpert for Stadium Project

A North Carolina institution is almost finished with a million-dollar project in its stadium. The Western Carolina University project included the removal, demolition and replacement of the existing synthetic turf field and the addition of a new synthetic turf practice area.

Kim Consavage, a member of Michigan State

Construction

Michigan State Halts Construction on Three Major Projects

Michigan State University has put the brakes on a number of campus construction projects to address a funding gap posed by the impact of the pandemic.



Finlandia

Health Sciences Facilities

Finlandia U Plans Fall Opening of New Health Sciences Facility

Finlandia University's College of Health Sciences will be ready to receive students in fall 2020 in its new location, in spite of project delays due to a COVID-19 outbreak, according to the institution.

Contest

Tennant Company Awards Grand Prize in "Custodians Are Key" Contest

The inaugural “Custodians Are Key” contest launched in September and recognizes the work of K-12 custodians around the country. Kris Kantor of Hayes Elementary in Lakewood, Ohio is the grand prize winner and will receive a prize valued $5,000, while his school receives $10,000.

Reopening Schools

Utah Gov. Approves Board of Education Requirements for Reopening Schools

Gov. Gary Herbert approved the Utah State Board of Education’s requirements and recommendations for reopening schools in the state. As per the requirements, all Utah public schools must have reopening plans in place and posted online by August 1.

Reopening

Wisconsin’s Education Agency Issues Guidance for Reopening Schools

The Department of Public Instruction recommends smaller class sizes, alternating school-day schedules, and providing mental health support for students and staff.

Reopening

Dallas ISD Considering In-Person, Virtual, Hybrid Instruction Options

Dallas ISD is waiting on direction from the state and haven’t solidified plans, yet. In the meantime, the district has created a first draft of safety and security guidelines for campus reentry, along with three different potential instructional models.

Rendering of Future College

New Construction

UCSD Forges Ahead on Two "Neighborhood" Projects

While the University of California San Diego has put some projects on hold due to financial constraints introduced by the pandemic, the university is forging ahead with construction work on its North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood and planning for its Future College Living and Learning Neighborhood.

An illustration of the aerial view of the stadium.

New Construction

School Board Votes to Move Joint District/University Stadium Project Ahead

Des Moines' school board approved a resolution to continue work on a stadium that will serve the school district and Drake University.

Concept for "Vida," the first of three buildings that will make up the Denver-based Spur campus as part of the Colorado State University System. From The Clark Enersen Partners

New Construction

Colorado System Breaks Ground on Spur Campus

Although the usual groundbreaking celebration was put off due to COVID-19, the Colorado State University System broke ground this month on its newest campus. The Denver site, dubbed "Spur," will eventually include three buildings, focused on the studies of food, water and health.

A rendering of a parking structure, which is among the 16 campus facilities slated for solar panel installation at Emory University. Source: Cherry Street Energy

Emory Adding 15,000 Solar Panels

The Atlanta-based institution will be installing more than 15,000 solar panels on 16 campus buildings. That represents 5.5 megawatts of solar generation, enough to produce about a tenth of the university's peak energy requirements.

Reopening

College Presidents Say a Fall Opening Is Likely, According to Survey

Three-hundred and ten presidents responded to the survey on topics such as “their current plans for the fall, including actions they may require to consider reopening campus, the impact of the pandemic on future revenue, and the projected impact on fall enrollment numbers.”

Online Learning

Florida School District Provides Free Online Kindergarten-Readiness Program

About 500 Pre-K students at Escambia County School District will have access to a free online summer education program designed to help children make up for lost learning due to the coronavirus.

Construction

Binghamton U Puts Most Construction on Hold During Virus Closures

Directions issued by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in late March suspended all non-essential construction activity in New York, leaving universities and colleges scrambling to put construction projects on hold in a manner that would allow them to pick up the work when closures have been lifted. At Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York system, that affected numerous building sites.

Construction

Construction Workers Get Back to Work at U Michigan

Construction sites in Michigan that were under state shutdown orders are starting work again — including at the University of Michigan. The institution has begun working with state officials to crank up activities on multiple projects, including new construction and renovation and addition work.

Safely Reopening

Baylor Fall Planning Heavy on Flexibility

Although Baylor University intends to return to in-person classes in the fall, the Texas institution said that doesn't mean it's planning for a "normal start."

COVID-19

Appalachian State Announces 16 Cases of COVID-19 Among Construction Workers

Appalachian State University recently learned that 16 subcontracted workers have tested positive for COVID-19.

Ohio Community College Launches Tuition Assistance Program

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) in Cleveland, Ohio will cover tuition for students facing financial hardship due to COVID-19.

Reopening Schools

Montana School Reopens With Safety Measures

Students at Willow Creek School in Montana returned to school on Thursday. The school, which serves between 50-60 students in grades K-12, is one of the first in the United States to reopen after schools closed in March.

Illinois State Board of Education Issues Guidance on Graduation Ceremonies

The board strongly encourages districts to hold digital events and to use social media to highlight graduates with hashtags and messages. The board will allow in-person graduation events including “drive-in” and “drive-through” ceremonies.

Reopening Schools

DISD Superintendent: “Highly doubtful” of return to regular school days in August

Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa laid out several possibilities for classes in August.

Awards & Recognition

Entries Now Open for New Product of the Year Award

Spaces4Learning has opened its 2020 New Product of the Year award program. Each year, the program recognizes new and emerging products and technologies for the outstanding contributions they make to K–12 and higher education.

Business

Michigan Community Colleges See Decline in Summer Enrollment

Michigan community colleges are seeing a decline in summer enrollment, an indication of what’s to come in the fall.

Food Service

Houston ISD and Houston Food Bank Distribute Food to More Than 4,000 Cars

Houston ISD and Houston Food Bank officials handed out 90,000 pounds of food at NRG Stadium on Saturday, April 18.

Grant

IIE to Provide Emergency Funding for International Students

The organization is calling IIE Network Member institutions to nominate international students who are not able to return to their home countries over the summer due to COVID-19 for a grant of up to $2,500.

Contingency Planning

Boston University Plans for Possible Delay of Fall Semester

Boston University is planning for the possibility that the fall term might have to be delayed and instead reopened in January 2021.

Construction

New Jersey Halts Construction Except for Schools, Hospitals, and Other Projects

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced the indefinite halt to non-essential construction, effective April 10 at 8 p.m. The new executive order tightens restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Fabricate, the new carpet collection by designer Jhane Barnes.

Flooring

Tarkett Launches New Carpet Collection by Designer Jhane Barnes

Tarkett, a flooring and sports surface solutions company, launched a new carpet collection in partnership with menswear designer Jhane Barnes.

Sponsored Content

  • Wenger Corporation

    In modern educational environments, the efficient organization of resources plays a pivotal role in enhancing the learning experience. Read More