Higher Ed


WIU Secures $119M in State Funding for Arts Center

After more than ten years of waiting, construction has finally begun on a new Center for Performing Arts (CPA) on the campus of Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.

UNC-Chapel Hill Breaks Ground on New Business School

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, N.C., recently broke ground on a new $150-million business school. The future Steven D. Bell Hall will play home to the Kenan-Flagler Business School to modernize its facilities and allow the school to accommodate about 50% more undergraduate students, according to university news.

UT-Austin Board of Regents Announces Campus Landmark Renovation

The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently announced that it will provide a $26-million lead investment toward the restoration and renovation of the UT Tower at the UT-Austin campus.

University of Utah to Expand Applied Sciences Building

The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, is set to begin construction on renovations and additions to its applied sciences building. Work will start in early October and consist of renovating 40,000 square feet inside the William Stewart Building for Applied Sciences, as well as building a 100,000-square-foot addition on the building’s west side.

St. Mary’s College Opens New Performing Arts Building

St. Mary’s College of Maryland in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, recently debuted its new performing arts center to the public. The college held a daylong celebration on Saturday, Sept. 24, in honor of the new Nancy R. and Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center.

Smith College, MNLA Partner for 20-Year Landscape Master Plan

Smith College in Northampton, Mass., recently partnered with landscape architecture firm MNLA to complete a 20-year landscape master plan for its 147-acre campus.

University of Virginia Partners with BenchPro on Studio Space

The University of Virginia School of Architecture (UVA) is providing students with a new and improved design education environment which includes a 24,000 square foot renovation project as well as model making spaces.

Jeff Livingston, Spiezle Architectural Group

Spiezle Architectural Group Hires New Director of Campus Architecture

Architectural, interior design, landscape architecture, and planning firm Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., recently announced that Jeff B. Livingston, RA, NCARB will join the firm as its new Director of Campus Architecture.

LSU Health Shreveport, Perkins&Will to Collaborate on Dual Projects

LSU Health Shreveport and the Houston Studio of architecture and design firm Perkins&Will have announced design details about two upcoming projects for the academic medical center located in Shreveport, La.

University of Kentucky Names Upcoming Outdoor Development Project

The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently announced that its upcoming Rose Street Development Park Project will be named the Alumni Commons.

Wisconsin Medical School Breaks Ground on Cancer Research Facility

The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wis., recently broke ground on a 150,000-square-foot cancer research facility that will be the first of its kind in both the city of Milwaukee and in eastern Wisconsin, according to a news release. The MCW Cancer Research Building will centralize the college’s 700 cancer-related researchers and 135 lab spaces currently spread across its campus into a single location.

Construction Delays Opening of MSU’s John Goodman Amphitheater

Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., recently announced that the opening of its new John Goodman Amphitheater has been delayed until late October. The project was originally expected to be completed by early summer, in time for the beginning of the 60th season of the university’s Tent Theatre program.

Florida Polytechnic University Applied Research Center

Florida Polytechnic University Debuts New Applied Research Center

Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, Fla., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new, $47-million Applied Research Center. The facility measures in at more than 90,000 square feet, according to a university news release, and it houses amenities like research and teaching laboratories, student design space, faculty offices and conference rooms, and study spaces.

Truman State University to Renovate Historic Building into Student Success Center

Construction will begin soon on the campus of Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., to convert a historic building into a Student Success Center. A renovation project was announced in February 2022 with construction scheduled to begin in August. A recent local news story reports that construction is on track and that university officials have been conducting meetings with architects during the summer and into the fall.

OSU Develops College Application Online Toolkit

Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore., recently announced that it has launched an online toolkit to help students around the world complete the college application process. The resource, AXS Companion, launched on Sept. 1 and is available free of charge, according to a university news release.

Brown University Completes Dining Hall Renovations

Brown University in Providence, R.I., recently completed a $3-million renovation of one of its campus dining facilities, according to university news.

Arizona State University, LACCD Collaborate on Transfer Pathways Program

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) recently announced a partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) to create MyPath2ASU, an online program that provides LACCD students with a method of transferring to the latter school to earn a four-year degree.

University of Maine Opens New Engineering, Design Center

The University of Maine in Orono, Maine, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new E. James and Eileen P. Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center (Ferland EEDC) on Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Daytona State College Deltona Campus Building 2

Daytona State College Deltona Campus Breaks Ground on Second Building

The Daytona State College (DSC) Deltona Campus in Deltona, Fla., recently broke ground on the campus’ second building. Currently known as Building 2, the facility will serve as a multi-disciplinary laboratory and academic space to house classrooms and workforce training labs.

OptiMA, Inc. Partners with Newline Interactive for Interactive Display Boards

Visual communication solutions provider OptiMA, Inc. recently announced a partnership with Newline Interactive to provide Newline’s interactive display boards through OptiMA’s online store, MyWhiteboards.com, according to a news release.

University of Rochester to Expand Laser Lab

The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently announced that ground has been broken on a $42-million expansion to its Laboratory for Laser Energetics.

SMCC Science Complex

Arizona Community College Readies New Science Complex

Construction is complete on a $13.6-million Science Complex at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz., according to a recent press release. The complex includes the total renovation of two existing buildings and new construction of a 19,000-square-foot Physical and Life Science Building.

Reimagining Learning Environments Through Technology Design in a Hybrid World

As life makes its recovery in a “post-COVID” era, it has inevitably become a hybrid of in-person and virtual interactivity. When budgeting allows, it is critical that learning spaces are designed to become more flexible as technology is now integrated in our lives more than ever.

UConn Board of Trustees Approves New Residence Hall

The Board of Trustees for the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn., recently approved the construction of a new residence hall in south campus.

Brightline Debuts Fluorescent-to-LED Conversion Kit

Video lighting systems solutions provider Brightline recently announced the debut of a retrofit package that lets users upgrade Brightline S1.2 or S1.4 fluorescent studio fixtures to LED fixtures.

The University of Saint Joseph exterior at dusk

University Of Saint Joseph Expands O'Connell Athletic Center

The University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Conn., engaged JCJ Architecture to renovate and expand the school’s existing O’Connell Athletic Center into a flexible, multi-sport arena and venue to accommodate existing and new university programs.

college students basement apartment living area

An Escape Room for Building Digital Skills

At Pennsylvania's Northampton Community College, students are engaging with cutting-edge technologies in a basement "apartment" designed to boost digital literacy and job skills.

Midland College Breaks Ground on Pre-K Academy

Midland College in Midland, Texas, recently broke ground on a 60,000-square-foot facility designed to address a shortage of early childhood education centers and a shortage of teachers in the area.

STEAM Center Construction at University of St. Thomas Underway

At the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., construction is underway on a new centralized home for STEAM education. The Schoenecker Center will stand five stories and cover more than 130,000 square feet to integrate the school’s art, science, engineering and innovation programs.

Penn State Approves Plans for New Liberal Arts Facility

The Board of Trustees at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Penn., recently approved final plans for the construction of a new, $127.7-million liberal arts building.

Thomas More University Selects Contractor for New Academic Building

Thomas More University in Crestview Hills, Ky., recently announced that it has selected Turner Construction Company as the general contractor for its new Academic Center.

Bucknell West Residence Hall

Bucknell University to Build New Residence Halls

Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., recently announced that it will build four apartment-style residence halls over the next two years.

Saddleback College Opens New STEM Facility

Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., recently opened a new STEM facility on its campus. The Advanced Technology and Applied Sciences (ATAS) building measures in at 52,913 square feet and provides multidisciplinary space for labs and classrooms, general instructional areas, and administrative space.

Virginia Commonwealth University to Build New Honors Dorms

Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., recently moved forward with plans to build a new residence hall for honors students.

Spaces4Learning Launches Education Design Showcase 2022

Submit your project today and pay nothing to enter. If your project is selected for publication in the 2022 Education Design Showcase, you will receive an invoice in late September to help cover judging expenses and production, printing and distribution of Spaces4Learning magazine. Don't miss your chance to be part of this program, which highlights the nation's finest environments for teaching and learning. The extended submission deadline is Friday, Sept. 9!

man working on laptop

Education Leaders Discuss Enabling the Digital-First Campus

Technology can streamline university services and processes and ultimately help advance the institutional mission—when leveraged strategically. Higher education leaders share how they optimize operations, pursue digital efficiencies and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

MSU Breaks Ground on Student Activities Center

Michigan State University in Lansing, Mich., recently broke ground on a new student activities center.

Texas A&M Receives Grant to Develop 3D-Printable ‘Hempcrete’ Buildings

Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, recently received a $3.74-million grant to research and develop the ability to 3D-print buildings using concrete made from hemp—or “hempcrete.”

Schools In Focus: Talking Campus Security with Mitch McKinley

Schools In Focus: Hacking the Senses to Boost Student Wellness

Today's guests are Kim Montague, Executive Director - research and insights, and Kaelynn Reid, design futurist, both with Kimball International. They're here to talk about the design elements of multi-sensory environments that research and experience have shown to maximize student wellness.

UW-River Falls Plans $117M STEM Facility

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls, located in River Falls, Wis., is in the final phases of planning construction on a new, $117-million STEM facility.

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