Campus Operations
Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it will partner with Marist College to design a new campus-wide master plan for its campus in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., according to a news release. The plan will serve as a blueprint for the Marist 100 initiative, a strategic plan that aligns with the college’s centennial celebration in 2029.
New Construction
Texas A&M University-Central Texas (TAMUCT) recently broke ground on a new operational facility for its campus in Killeen, Texas, according to a news release. The Centralized Operational Reliability and Efficiency (CORE) facility will measure in at 36,000 square feet, will cost an estimated $50 million, and has an estimated completion date of spring 2026.
New Construction
North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., recently announced the completion of three new residential facilities in its new Greek Village, according to a news release. They add a capacity of 279 beds and about 100,000 square feet of living space across three different models. The university partnered with a design team from KWK Architects/Jenkins • Peer Architects on the project.
Campus Renovations
The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently launched a renovation project to restore the historic Scovell Hall, originally built in 1903. The comprehensive rebuild has an estimated completion date of 2026 and will preserve the structure’s north and west entrances. The new facility will cover about 92,000 square feet and play home to administrative services for the university’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE), according to a news release.
Campus Spending
Data-driven solutions provider Gordian recently released its latest State of Facilities in Higher Education report, which revealed that higher-education institutions ramped up their reinvestment in facilities by more than 26% year-over-year during 2023, according to a news release.
Staffing
KAI 360 Construction Services recently announced that it has hired a new Senior Project Manager for its office in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, according to a news release. Wenguel Yohannes, AIA, NOMA, will oversee building design and construction program management initiatives across the lifespan of a project while maintaining both high-quality standards and client satisfaction.
New Construction
Studio G Architects recently announced that a new elementary school in Groton, Mass., has reached the final stage of construction. Florence Roche Elementary School (FRES) will cover about 110,000 square feet and was designed to embody the district’s educational pedagogy of Universal Design for Learning.
Staffing
HMC Architects recently announced the appointment of three new higher education leaders for its practice in California, according to a news release. James Sink, AIA, LEED AP, DBIA will serve as the firm’s new higher education practice leader, while Christina Mannion and Eric Skiba will serve as Principals-in-Charge.
Campus Technology
Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 11 to celebrate the opening of a new EdTech Studio on its campus. The space within the Eriksson College of Education will offer technological training for pre-service teachers through the use of virtual reality.
New Construction
The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) recently broke ground on a new athletic center for its campus in Atlanta, Ga., according to a news release. The Thomas A. Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center will measure in at 100,000 square feet and include facilities for strength and conditioning, sports medicine, mental health services, nutrition, and meeting and office space.
Campus Amenities
Workplace solutions company Fellowes recently announced that it has been awarded a cooperative purchasing agreement with government organization Sourcewell. A news release reports that Fellowes was presented with the contract in the “Furniture Solutions with Related Accessories and Services” category after a rigorous submission process that resulted in contracts meeting or exceeding local procurement requirements.
Campus Technology
Springdale Public Schools in Springdale, Ark., recently announced a new partnership that will bring seven new digital displays to the district. Digital Scoreboards will provide six outdoor displays and one indoor display to upgrade both athletic experiences and educational opportunities for students, according to a news release.
Campus Funding
The Kingsley Montessori School in Boston, Mass., will soon purchase a new building with the help of a $25-million, tax-exempt bond from MassDevelopment & Rockland Trust, according to a news release. The school has leased the space located at 26 Exeter Street since 2005, which currently plays home to the Kindergarten Entry and Elementary programs.
Classroom Furniture
Children’s furniture manufacturer Whitney Brothers recently announced the release of a new play vehicle for young children. The Imagination Truck can be reconfigured as a food truck, an ice cream van, a mail delivery truck, and more to provide options for imaginative role play, according to a news release.
Maintenance & Operations
American Plant Maintenance (APM Steam) recently announced the launch of steam trap survey services, which a news release reports can document the operational status of and provide repair recommendations for steam traps in a facility’s steam system. The survey can increase operational integrity, energy efficiency, and safety in a steam distribution system.
New Construction
Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif., recently announced that it has broken ground on two new buildings for its campus, according to a news release. The Maintenance and Operations Building and the Chapman Newell Instructional Building will cover a combined total of 29,713 square feet. The college is partnering with Roesling Nakamura Terada Architects for the project’s design and BNBuilders for its construction.
Campus Renovations
The Fremont Unified School District in Fremont, California, recently finished a multi-phase conversion to Thornton Middle School that will increase the school’s student population by almost 50 percent with the addition of sixth-grade students, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects and Blach Construction for the project that totaled 45,000 square feet of new construction and 57,000 square feet of renovation and modernization.
Healthy Schools
IAQ monitoring systems solutions provider Attune and the Illinois Chapter of ASHRAE recently partnered to provide new equipment to two K–12 public schools in Western Springs, Ill. Forest Hills Elementary School and McClure Junior High received Attune IAQ monitoring systems as part of an ASHRAE sustainability research project that began in February 2024.
Sustainability
The Fresno Unified School District in Fresno, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new 17.5-MW, district-wide solar energy and storage portfolio, according to a news release. The district partnered with ForeFront Power, a developer and asset manager of large-scale solar energy projects, to develop the project.
New Construction
Franklin Cummings Tech, a private technical college in Boston, recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a new, 66,000-square-foot facility as its new campus, according to a news release. The college partnered with Studio G Architects and Studio ENEE for the facility’s design.
New Construction
The American University in Cairo (AUC) recently announced a Campus Expansion Project that will take place across 65 acres in Cairo, Egypt, according to a news release. The English-language, American-accredited institution will launch five new projects to serve its community of about 7,000 undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate students.
New Construction
The Compton Unified School District in Compton, Calif., recently selected DLR Group to design its new Centennial High School, according to a news release. The Board of Trustees unanimously selected the design firm among six submissions in a design competition.
Campus Renovations
Oak Park Elementary School in San Diego, Calif., recently celebrated the halfway point of construction on a new music building for its campus, according to a news release. District leaders and students gathered on March 7 to watch the school’s music students—the Tempo Tigers—perform in front of the new facility.
Campus Renovations
Kearny High School in San Diego, Calif., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of a new classroom building and a slew of campus upgrades, according to a news release. The latest in an ongoing series of bond-funded upgrades includes a new, two-story classroom and student services facility; renovations of nine classrooms, the dining area, and the softball field; and the creation of outdoor learning spaces.
Classroom Furniture
Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently released the fourth season of its Alternative Design podcast, according to a news release. Host Kaelynn Reid, design futurist at Kimball International, will interview industry experts about the future of education through the lens of design and architecture. Episodes are available via Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, and more.
Campus Safety
National news reports that the U.S. Department of Education has fined Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., a record $14 million for failure to comply with a federal campus crime-reporting law. An investigation uncovered multiple violations of the Clery Act, which requires colleges and universities to record and distribute information about campus crimes and other potentially dangerous situations.
Staffing
Architecture, interiors, landscape, and planning firm Carrier Johnson + Culture (CJ+C) recently announced that it has filled two significant leadership roles within the company. Nash Reyes, Assoc. AIA, will serve as the new Director of Technology; and Craig Atkinson, AIA, NOMA, DBIA, LEED AP, as the new Director of Higher Education, according to a news release.
Indoor Air Quality
Spring is a wonderful time of year. The days are longer, the weather begins to warm up, and everything is in bloom. However, for many people, this also means seasonal allergies will set in. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 25% of adults and about 20% of children will suffer from seasonal allergies.
Awards Program
Spaces4Learning recently announced that it has extended the deadline for its annual Education Design Showcase awards program. The new deadline for submission is Friday, March 15, 2024. EDS was established in 1999 to share innovative and practical solutions in planning, design, and construction.
Campus Renovations
The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., recently announced a 15-month renovation project for its HPER (Health, Physical Education, and Recreation) Building on campus, according to a university news release. The renovations will feature infrastructure and architectural updates, as well as an additional 13,000 square feet of fitness center space.
New Construction
Local news reports that construction has begun on a new elementary school in Greenville, S.C. The facility will measure in at 110,000 square feet and will stand on the former site of J.L. Mann High Academy.
Staff Promotions
Planning, architecture, and engineering firm Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has promoted three of its staff members to the Associates Leadership Team, according to a news release. Heather Yaple, AIA, MBA, LEED GREEN is located in the Brentwood, Tenn., office; Alyssa Menolascino, AIA, is in the Chicago, Ill., office; and Jacob Windschitl, AIA, in the Saint Paul, Minn., office.
New Construction
The Prince George’s County Public School System in Maryland recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its sixth new school in two and a half years, according to a news release. The Feb. 21 ceremony marked the completion of The Colin L. Powell K–8 Academy, which opened in November 2023.
New Construction
The University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark., recently began construction on a new $27-million residence hall, according to a university news release. The facility will stand four stories tall, include space for 250 beds, and will cover 64,000 square feet. It’s scheduled to open in time for the beginning of the fall 2025 fall semester.
New Construction
Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new Student Success Center on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The 56,000-square-foot building is the college’s first new facility in more than ten years, and it plays home to the College Library & Learning commons, academic advising, coaching, and wraparound services to support students.
Building Envelope
Metal product manufacturer IMETCO recently launched a new line of architectural metal roof panels, according to a news release. The Batten-Tile panels are designed for vertical walls or slopes of 3 inches or more, and they come in smooth or embossed surfaces in a wide variety of metals.
Staffing
Architecture and design firm Perkins&Will recently announced that it has appointed Aimee Eckmann to the position of firmwide practice leader for K–12 education, according to a news release. Eckmann has been with the firm since 1999 and has served as the Chicago studio’s K–12 practice leader since 2017.
Healthy Schools
Western Wyoming Community College recently announced the launch of a new partnership that will expand mental-health support resources to rural and working students, according to a news release. The college is partnering with Uwill, a Boston-based mental-health and wellness solution for university students, to provide teletherapy opportunities to its more-than 3,000 students.
New Construction
The University of North Florida recently announced the groundbreaking of a new Honors Residence Hall on its campus in Jacksonville, Fla., according to a university news release. The facility is set to open in fall 2025 and will be the university’s first new residence hall since 2009.
Resources
Here at Spaces4Learning, we recently launched a new resource on our website—the Glossary of School Facility Planning and Maintenance. It offers clear and concise definitions of key terms and concepts used in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of K–12 and higher-education facilities.