Radford Selects Construction Firm for $102M Arts, Innovation Facility

Radford University in Radford, Va., has selected construction and development firm Skanska to build its new, $102-million Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity (CAIC). The 177,917-square-foot facility will replace the existing College of Visual and Performing Arts and provide interdisciplinary student spaces. Skanska’s portion of the project is set to cost $80.5 million.

The building will be the largest capital project in the university’s history, in terms of both square footage and total funding. The facility will create space for collaboration among the university’s arts, health sciences, and technology programs. Its amenities will include a 475-seat performing arts auditorium; fashion, interior design, and health sciences labs; painting, drawing, music, and dance studios; maker and printer spaces; and classrooms, administrative offices, and collaboration space.

“The new Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity will offer the most modern classrooms that are adaptable for not only how classes are taught today, but how they are envisioned for the future,” said Radford University President Brian Hemphill. “The new building is of the utmost importance to the students, faculty and staff at Radford University and will provide much-needed space to welcome and inspire its users for generations to come.”

Work is scheduled to begin in June 2021 and to be finished by the end of 2023. The facility was designed by Hord Coplan Macht, Inc.

“We are excited to enhance the educational experience of the students, faculty and staff at Radford University,” said Greg Peele, executive vice president for Skanska’s North Carolina and Virginia building operations. “The new CAIC building will allow for the integration of programs for innovative research, study and socialization with modern amenities and spaces for students to prosper.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • North Carolina District Completes New Elementary School

    The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) in Holly Springs, N.C., recently announced that construction on a new elementary school has finished, according to a news release. Rex Road Elementary School measures in at 133,000 square feet and is the fifteenth school that general contractor Balfour Beatty has completed for the district.

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

  • University of West Florida Opens New Laboratory Facility

    The University of West Florida recently announced that renovation work is complete on a new lab building for its campus in Pensacola, Fla., according to university news. Building 80 will serve as the home to the university’s civil engineering program and the Tyler Chase Norwood Construction Management Program.

  • Pudu Robotics Launches AI-Powered, Large-Scale Floor Sweeper

    Pudu Robotics recently launched the newest member of its MT1 series of robotic floor sweepers, the PUDU MT1 Max, according to a news release. The AI-powered, 3D perception robotic sweeper was designed for use in large, complex cleaning environments both indoors and semi-outdoors, like parking garages and semi-open building atriums.

Digital Edition