College of the Atlantic Plans New $13M Academic Building

This spring, groundbreaking will take place on the campus of the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME, on a new $13-million, energy-efficient Center for Human Ecology building that will house science laboratories, lecture halls, faculty offices, art and design studios, and a teaching greenhouse.

College of the Atlantic

The two-story, 29,000-square-foot building will be built to exacting energy standards, reducing energy usage by 80 percent compared to a similar building with more traditional construction designs and materials.

The architects for the project are Susan T. Rodriguez of New York City and GO Logic of Belfast, Maine. E.L. Shea, Inc. of Ellsworth is expected to lead construction of the building, which is expected to be completed by September 2020.

Featured

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.