Industry News


Campus Renovations

Texas City ISD Completes New STEM, Robotics Center

The Texas City Independent School District near Houston, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new STEM and Robotics Center geared towards students across grades K–12, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects and Bartlett Cocke for the project’s design and construction.

Campus Renovations

California K–12 District Debuts Reconstructed High School

The Mendocino Unified School District (MUSD) in Mendocino, Calif., recently completed a renovation and modernization project on Mendocino High School, according to a news release. The “near-total reconstruction” included updates to educational and student spaces, energy conservation, and the incorporation of all-electric features to be paired with renewable energy sources in future phases.

Fort Worth Country Day

New Construction

Fort Worth Country Day to Build New Lower School with Focus on Natural Light, Indoor-Outdoor Learning Spaces

Fort Worth Country Day (FWCD), a college-preparatory school in Fort Worth, Texas, has broken ground on a new 32,720-square-foot, $25 million Lower School.

building electricity

Energy

University of Houston System Partners with TXU Energy to Power All System Facilities

The University of Houston System has entered into a multi-year partnership with TXU Energy to provide electricity across the entire system, including its university campuses and instructional sites as well as its athletic facilities. The agreement includes investments in UH scholarships as well as energy-efficiency projects.

Kupp Flip-Top Tables

Furniture

Teknion Introduces Space-Saving Kupp Flip-Top Tables

Teknion has launched a new addition to its Kupp furniture collection: the Kupp Flip-Top table. Featuring angled legs that enable straight-line nesting and integration with the Kupp horizontal nesting chair, the tables are designed for flexibility and efficient storage, the company said in a news announcement.

Display Technologies

New LG CreateBoard Features Built-in Access to Google Play Store

LG Business Solutions USA (LG) has announced a new CreateBoard, the TR3DK-BM, to be shipped this spring. It will come with ransomware default protection ChromeOS Flex and Android 13 pre-installed and be able to access the Google Play store.

Virtual Reality

D2L Partners with Unity to Bring Extended Reality to Classrooms

Learning tech company D2L has announced a partnership with extended reality (XR) content creation company Unity to empower educators to use interactive augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) tools to expand and deepen student education.

Awards

Spaces4Learning Launches 2024 Education Design Showcase

Spaces4Learning is now accepting entries for the 2024 Education Design Showcase! The program was established in 1999 to share innovative and practical solutions in planning, design, and construction.

Facilities

Zurn Elkay Launches Update to Exposed Sensor Flush Valves

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced an update to its line of exposed sensor flush valves. The new Zurn Top Mount Exposed Sensor Flush Valves With Ceramic Gear Technology take advantage of ceramic gear technology instead of solenoids to increase reliability, precision, and efficiency while also providing low-maintenance flushing.

Architecture

Spiezle Architectural Group Opens Philadelphia Office

Spiezle Architectural Group recently announced the opening of a new office in Philadelphia, Pa., according to a news release. The 6,200-square-foot space will offer clients the full array of the firm’s services and will be overseen by Bob Reid, AIA, LEED AP, Principal with the firm.



Sustainability

California K–12 District Launches Energy Infrastructure, Sustainability Program

The Burlingame School District in Burlingame, Calif., recently announced the upcoming launch of its Energy Infrastructure and Sustainability Program Phase II, according to a news release. Construction on HVAC modernizations and solar structures will begin early this year and is scheduled for completion before the beginning of the 2024–25 school year.

Staffing

DLR Group Announces New Higher Education Leader

Design firm DLR Group recently named a new leader for its Higher Education practice in Senior Associate Adam Post, AIA, WELL AP. Based out of the office in Lincoln, Neb., Post will work to expand relationships and opportunities with institutions of higher education in the region.

Healthy Schools

Service by Medallion Receives 2023 BSCAI Cleaning for Health Award

Service by Medallion was recently selected by an independent panel of industry experts to receive the Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI) 2023 Cleaning for Health Award presented by ProTeam.

New Construction

Auburn University Breaks Ground on STEM + Agricultural Sciences Complex

Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., recently announced that construction on a new STEM and Agriculture Sciences Complex has begun, according to a news release. The new facility measures in at 285,000 square feet and will cost an estimated $184 million.

Predictions

Call for Opinions: Spaces4Learning 2024 Predictions for Educational Facilities

We’re inviting our readership—administrators, facilities managers, architects, engineers, builders, superintendents, designers, vendors—to chip in on their predictions for educational facilities in 2024.

New Construction

Construction Begins on South Carolina Charter School

Construction recently began on a new 43,000-square-foot charter school near Charleston, S.C., according to a news release. Real estate solutions provider Ryan Companies broke ground on Summerville Preparatory Academy in partnership with Red Apple Development and Charter Schools USA.

Sustainability

Architecture Firm, Community College District Partner to Create Sustainability Goals

Architecture firm DLR Group recently partnered with the Riverside Community College District (RCCD) in Riverside, Calif., to offer a suite of sustainability services, according to a news release. RCCD is composed of three colleges (Moreno Valley College, Norco College, and Riverside City College), each of which will gain a new Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP), a Total Cost of Ownership dashboard (TCO), and Integrated Energy Master Plans (IMEP).

Sustainability

Auburn University, ABM Partner for EV Charging Station Solutions

Auburn University’s School of Industrial & Graphic Design recently partnered with ABM Industries for a series of student senior projects involving the design of new and innovating EV charging stations, according to a news release.

Healthy Schools

Modine Offers Germicidal Air Disinfection for K–12 Schools

HVAC indoor air quality company Modine has debuted the VidaShield UV24 Active Air Disinfection System for the K–12 school market. The product line combines UV-C light irradiation with air circulating fans and an optional ceiling light, the company said.

Furniture

Kimball International Receives Three Awards from Interior Design Magazine

Commercial furnishings manufacturer Kimball International recently announced that it has received three Best of Year (BoY) Awards from Interior Magazine. The awards recognize designers, manufacturers, and architects around the world to both showcase modern design and indicate the direction of future trends.

Campus Design

Five Ways to Create an Inviting, Engaging Multipurpose Space

We always knew that it would be great to have a dedicated space for students who needed pull-out testing, different accommodations, and/or more individualized instruction. We also knew that by creating a modern, multipurpose space from an existing facility, we’d be able to meet those needs while also using the space for staff meetings, academic clubs, Bible study, and other purposes.

Product 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.

Campus Renovations

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.

New Construction

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.

New Construction

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.

Campus Technology

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.

New Construction

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.

New Construction

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.

Staffing

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.

New Construction

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.

Campus Amenities

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.

New Construction

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.

Lighting

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.

New Construction

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.

Maintenance

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.

New Construction

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.

New Construction

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.

Textiles

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.

Sustainability

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.

New Construction

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.

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