CannonDesign Releases Infographic to Better Help Universities Obtain More R&D Funding

WASHINGTON, DC – CannonDesign, a global design firm ranked among the top 10 S&T design firms in the world, has released a new infographic that helps universities wanting to obtain more R&D funding navigate the federal grants process.

Funding challenges are a major concern for many institutions around the United States. Institutions are tasked with securing hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in grants each year to continue their important R&D work. 

“We realized during our research that there were two roadblocks for universities when applying for grants,” says Stephen Blair, CannonDesign's executive director of Science and Technology. “The first roadblock was that universities sometimes overlook grants offered through different federal agencies.” A total of 14 federal agencies support R&D funding through facilities construction, renovation and major capital equipment, including some not commonly known for grant funding, including the Department of Agriculture and NASA.

“The second roadblock for many universities is navigating the design requirements necessary to prove their facility will remain viable to conduct the research within,” says Blair. “I've seen universities try and use their undergraduate architect students to design a preliminary facilities plan, and this never turns out well.”

For construction, renovation and equipment grant applications, the requirements include engineering criteria, architectural criteria, line drawings, timelines, construction documents, equipment plans, operating budgets and more. With hundreds of institutions competing for a limited amount of funding, the way you present the facility design plays a pivotal role in setting the top applications apart from the rest.

CannonDesign has created an infographic of their research findings including the top grants and their issuing agencies as well as more information about the design requirements necessary for a successful application. Download the free infographic here: www.cannondesign.com.

Featured

  • Texas District Breaks Ground on Second High School

    The Waller Independent School District in Waller, Texas, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for what will become its second high school, according to a news release.

  • Ohio State University Opens 26-Story Hospital

    The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recently opened in Columbus, Ohio, standing 26 stories and covering 1.9 million square feet, according to a university news release. The project marks ten years of effort and is the university’s largest single-facility construction project ever.

  • UTampa Breaks Ground on STEM Academic Facility

    The University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., recently broke ground on one of its largest academic facilities ever, according to a news release. The Dickey Science Innovation Center will measure 153,000 square feet and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Photo credit: Elkus Manfredi Architects

    University of Virginia Selects Design-Build Team for New Residential Complex

    The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., recently announced that it has selected a design-build team for a new upper-class residential development on campus, according to a news release. Capstone Development Partners—in partnership with Elkus Manfredi Architects and the Hoar Construction/Hourigan construction team—will move forward with the three-building, 310,000-square-foot housing facility.