Construction crews completed the facility’s structural steel components in February, and have already finished pouring slab-on-deck concrete foundation for the mezzanine. Steel is now being detailed on the building’s east and west sides, and concrete columns are being poured, according to a recent progress report published by the university. Progress has also been made on planning the south main mechanical room, while electrical work is now being completed inside the building.

Crews will now focus on installing steel at the roof level as well as precast columns and beams. Demolition and abatement of the mechanical room will also take place, followed by mechanical, electrical and plumbing installation work.

Assembly Hall was first completed in December 1971 and, prior to the renovation, could accommodate 17,472 fans. In December 2013, IU Athletics announced a $40 million gift — a new philanthropic record for the university — from IU alumna Cindy Simon Skjodt. The gift was dedicated to providing much-needed renovations to Assembly Hall and to launching IU Athletics’ capital campaign. In recognition of the gift, Assembly Hall will be renamed the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall upon completion of the renovations.

Great care was taken when planning interior renovations to improve the fan experience. All existing restrooms will be fully renovated, and new ones will also be constructed to provide for greater ADA accessibility. Small and limiting concession areas will receive new designs, new equipment and new digital display boards for menus. Similarly, new television screens throughout the facility will provide in-house broadcasts.

Seating areas will be entirely revamped as well. All non-bleacher seating will be refurbished with new red seats and white seat pans, and new premium seating and boxes will be added. Cast-iron railings in the seating bowl will also be painted red, while metal railings in other parts of the facility will be replaced by sleeker acrylic panels to improve both safety and sightlines. A resinous epoxy floor that also showcases the university’s colors will replace concrete flooring on the upper levels.

Perhaps the most visible interior renovation will be the hall’s new three-story, glass-walled entry plaza featuring images of IU sports. Inside, a grand staircase will be located on each side of the facility, and sports memorabilia will line the walls near the new escalators. Windows will also overlook the court, offering a view of the new video board, which will be three times as wide as its predecessor.

Demolition, construction and renovations on Assembly Hall will continue through fall 2016.
 

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Illustration is the second largest undergraduate major at RISD, with nearly 300 students and more than 40 full and part-time faculty. However, since 1979, the department had been housed in a 19th century building that previously served as a chemical and dye plant. The structure was last renovated in 1967. However, this most recent renovation reconfigured the ISB floor plan to correct the complex warren of spaces, providing the college with a fully accessible facility that better suits the school’s needs.

The three-year, multi-phase renovation revitalized the 43,500-square-foot building’s studio, classroom, gallery and home spaces as part of RISD’s 2012–17 strategic plan, according to a statement by the school. The building is now able to meet both the current and anticipated needs of the ISB’s rapidly evolving curriculum.

The new and improved Illustration Studies Building today features fully updated teaching and making spaces, two galleries and new mechanical systems. The renovation also created a new woodshop, large painting studio, and a compact second-floor student lounge and shared printing area, along with much-needed storage space.

Also included in the renovation was a 5,600-square-foot addition onto the building’s east elevation spanning five stories. The new space houses seminar rooms, a code-compliant stairway, elevators and restrooms, making the building fully accessible and allowing each floor to be reconfigured.

“We are thrilled to have a facility that so fully supports the education we offer our students,” said RISD graduate and current Illustration Department Head Susan Doyle in a statement. “It is exciting to think about where it can help take our program in the years ahead.”

Shawmut Construction, with a local office in Providence, collaborated with award-winning architect and RISD graduate, Ed Wojcik of Ed Wojcik Architects Ltd. in Providence to revitalize the building, originally constructed in 1838. Shawmut Construction is known for its work on challenging historic renovation and preservation projects, and completed the multi-phased renovation over the course of three years. Work began on the project in May 2013 with an official groundbreaking ceremony.

“Our biggest challenge was completing the project without disrupting on-going campus activities and academic calendars, and we were able to achieve that with a phased construction plan during the summers of 2013, 2014, and 2015,” Ron Simoneau, vice president of Shawmut Design and Construction, said in a statement.

Ranked first in Business Insider’s survey of The World’s 25 Best Design Schools, RISD has an enrollment of approximately 2,450 students from around the world participating in full-time bachelor’s or master’s degree programs. The school was originally founded in 1877.
 

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Presently, 14 project managers are in charge of more than 800 construction workers on the campus, Director of Capital Projects John Fessler recently told the Charlotte Observer. Most of the planned summer projects were completed by July, well before the beginning of classes. Some projects scheduled for completion in June and July have been delayed, however, and will now be completed just days before students arrive.

The university’s newest residence hall, Laurel Hall, will cost $33.2 million and, along with renovations the existing Holshouser and Oak halls, will greatly expand the campus’ housing capacity. These renovations will also allow school to function as less of a commuter campus, Fessler told the Charlotte Observer.

Campus construction will continue throughout the year. Plans to break ground on a new residence hall, Levine Residence Hall, this summer are also underway, with an expected completion date of October 2016. The $45 million Levine Residence Hall will be the first hall on the UNC Charlotte campus to include an academic wing, and will most likely be used as a model for future residences. This fall, the school will also open the Vickie and Gene Johnson Marching Band Center as well as a new outdoor events center.

Speaking with the Charlotte Observer, Fessler said that construction of the residence halls, user fees will fund dining halls and parking decks, but academic buildings and some roads will be funded using tax dollars. While the economic downturn impacted tax-funded projects, the residence halls were not slowed down, as they used user funds.

Two road projects will also be completed after students have arrived. With the help of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the school is improving the campus’ south entrance and adding a traffic light to the intersection. This will help pedestrians cross the street as well as control the traffic entering the campus.

The first phase of the Phillips Road relocation or as Fessler described to the Charlotte Observer, “the bridge over Toby Creek,” will move the road that separates the university’s tennis courts from the baseball field. This relocation should be completed before the first home football game, Fessler said.

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UC San Diego announced in December it would soon begin developing designs for a new $111.6 million biology and chemistry building. Plans for the proposed 126,000-square-foot biology and chemistry building have been on the table for nearly a decade, but the project has been stalled due to lack of funding. However, campus officials are now pushing ahead with the project and hope to begin the design phase later this year.

The biology and chemistry programs are two of the university’s most highly ranked programs, and the university has already committed a portion of its own reserves to the project. Officials will now seek funding from donors and other outside sources. Provided the project remains on track, the six-story research and teaching facility will be completed by the fall of 2018.

UC San Diego will also complete a renovation of Mayer Hall’s Palacci Lab for the Physical Sciences Department. The project, designed by Harley Ellis Devereaux of San Diego, will demolish several existing spaces and transform them into four new labs capable of supporting physics and laser experiments. Though the project will not seek LEED certification, it will comply with the University of California Policy on Sustainable Practice and aims for an April 2015 completion.

Meanwhile, USD will complete improvements on the Manchester Hall Conference Center and will embark on the next phase of improvements to Loma Hall, home to the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering.

Work on Manchester Hall will begin in June and will include a more than 8,000-square-foot interior renovation, improving both the career services and undergraduate admissions departments. The project will include mechanical and electrical upgrades, as well as a modification to the building’s entry colonnade with an all-glass curtain wall system.

Nearly 12,000 square feet in USD’s Loma Hall will also undergo upgrades, building on Phase I improvements, which were completed earlier this month. Those improvements included demolition of a large portion of the facility’s first floor to add a new lobby, ideation space and rapid prototyping lab. The next round of work will include the addition of a sound-isolation ceiling.

The San Diego office of Sunnyvale, Calif.-headquartered Level 10 Construction will provide general contracting services on projects for both universities, namely the improvements to USD’s Manchester Conference Center and Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and UC San Diego’s Palacci Lab.

“The Level 10 project team has extensive experience in higher education projects,” said Mike Conroy, vice president of operations for Level 10 Construction, in a statement. “We have an adaptable approach that is focused on providing a high level of service to our clients while meeting their expectations for cost, schedule, quality and safety.”

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The future Oregon Forest Science Complex will include both new construction and renovation of existing space, showcasing innovative uses of wood in building design. It will also allow the College of Forestry to conduct research that will help meet the world’s growing demand for energy efficient, tall buildings made from sustainable building products, according to a statement by OSU.

“We are excited about leading a new national effort to advance the science and technology necessary to primarily use wood in the construction of 5- to 20-story buildings,” said Thomas Maness, dean of the OSU College of Forestry. “Developing these new, competitively priced, environmentally friendly products will not only increase the value of Oregon’s natural resources, but also grow jobs in our rural communities, with substantial benefits for our state.”

OSU is already a recognized leader in the development of adhesives and manufacturing techniques for engineered wood products. The Oregon Forest Science Complex, which is slated to include a new Advanced Wood Products Laboratory, will boost these applied research efforts. The laboratory, envisioned as a 25,000-square-foot space, will include computer controlled and robotic manufacturing systems, plus a pilot plant designed as a learning laboratory for students.

Peavy Hall, the College of Forestry’s main academic building, will also undergo a renovation, transforming it into a real life example of the possibilities offered by advanced wood products.

“In addition to concerns about sustainability, there is a lot of interest in engineered wood construction because these spaces are beautiful, very inviting and healthy places to live and work,” Maness said. “We want to show what you can do, and create a place that will be inspiring to our students as well as industry representatives.”

Enrollment at the School of Forestry, both on the undergraduate and graduate levels, has been steadily increasing in recent years, nearly doubling in the past decade to approximately 1,000 students. Bolstered by the new Oregon Forest Science Complex, the university hopes to push enrollment to 2,000 to meet high demand for qualified forestry professionals.

“Sometimes people think that forestry was important for Oregon’s past but don’t realize that it remains critical to our economy today, and may become even more important in the future,” said OSU President Ed Ray in a statement. “We are very proud of OSU’s contributions to the sector and are eager to build on this rich heritage, carrying out our mission as a 21st century land grant university.”

The university hopes to raise $30 million for construction costs related to the complex, after which it will also seek matching bonds from the state. Bonding for the project was included in the governor’s capital budget for consideration in the current legislative session.

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In an attempt to keep pace with rising enrollments — and to replace or upgrade aging or inadequate facilities — a number of Texas universities have developed plans for costly large-scale building projects and improvements. University leaders claim that, if funded, these projects will help attract new businesses and create new high-paying jobs, according to The Dallas Morning News.

A number of these funding requests are concentrated around the Dallas area. The University of Texas at Dallas will request $99 million for a new engineering building, plus another $95 million for a new science center, while the University of Texas at Arlington plans to request $190 million for the construction of the Science and Engineering Innovation Research Building, as well as an additional $99 million to establish a new College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions Academic and Research Building. The University of North Texas will seek a combined $152.8 million for construction of an interdisciplinary research building and a variety of renovations to the College of Law, both located on the university’s Fort Worth campus.

The University of North Texas at Denton is also hoping to secure more than $82 million for a new College of Visual Arts and Design facility, and more than $88 million for a new Science and Technology Research Building. Meanwhile the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the University of North Texas at Dallas will seek $109.8 million and $70 million respectively. The former hopes to construct a new vivarium and complete research infrastructure improvements, while the latter hopes to add a new Student Learning and Success Center.

These high profile funding requests are not just limited to the Dallas area, however, and a number of other institutions will also petition for funding. Texas A&M University in College Station is requesting more than $170 million for construction of an advanced bio-containment lab, a new classroom facility and various improvements. Both the Round Rock and San Marcos campuses of Texas State University will also seek funding for new construction projects. All said, Texas universities will request more than $3 billion for nearly 90 projects, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Many of these universities will seek to complete work with the support of tuition revenue bonds, which were last approved by the state legislature in 2006. That year state lawmakers gave the green light to more than 60 university construction and improvement projects totaling more than $1.8 billion. In 2013 a similar effort went unfunded due to disagreements between the Texas House and Senate. Competition for funding will be similarly difficult in the coming session as the number of requests has increased.

“There will be money there, but there are a lot of competing interests — and worthwhile ones,” Senator and Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) told The Dallas Morning News on Jan. 2.

The state legislature’s 84th session will commence Jan. 13 and the regular session will end June 1.

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Located in Queens, N.Y., adjacent to La Guardia Airport, the college maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,700 students studying more than 20 associates, masters and bachelors degree programs. These programs include aerospace engineering, airport management, airport maintenance, air traffic control and flight education.

“The nearly $40 million project equipped Vaughn College with expanded and renovated educational and technical facilities; new physics, mechanical, structural, and materials testing laboratories; new public spaces; a new, two-story library and teaching and learning center; upgraded building systems; and the robust sound insulation necessary for a college located only 200 feet from one of LaGuardia Airport’s runways,” said Regina Gallagher Marengo, P.E., president of construction manager Ensign Engineering, who managed the renovation, in a statement.

Additional renovations were performed on some of the older buildings on campus. The main building, built in 1940, was almost completely redone, while two classroom buildings built in 1983 and 1997, respectively, were upgraded. A large hangar containing an observation tower, also built in 1997, received a thorough renovation. The project’s design was completed in 2009 and construction began in 2011.

“Our institution seeks to provide an engaging educational experience for every student, which supports them in their pursuit of a degree as well as lifelong learning,” said Dr. Sharon DeVivo, the college’s newly installed seventh president and its first female leader, in a statement. “The completely upgraded educational and administrative facilities allow us to provide unparalleled service to our students and attract top faculty members, while incorporating the most advanced instructional technology and methods into our programs.”

Bronx, N.Y.-based Ensign Engineering served as the construction manager for the project, while New York City-based Stalco Construction served as the general contractor. Both John Ciardullo Associates, also of New York City, and Jamaica, N.Y.-based Graf & Lewent Architects contributed to the design.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, provided the majority of the project’s financing, while the college itself contributed $7 million of its own funds.

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In a statement on GoDuke.com, the official website of Duke athletics, Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Kevin White said the department is thrilled with the board’s decision to move forward on the project.

“When completed in 2016, Duke’s football facilities will rank among the finest in college athletics — on a scale appropriate for the university,” White said. “High-level sporting events create such tremendous opportunities to attract many members of the Duke family to campus. The premium amenities included in these state-of-the-art renovations will generate a first-rate experience for our alumni, friends, fans and most importantly, an optimal game day atmosphere for our student-athletes.”

The largest of the three upgrade projects will involve construction of a five-story tower containing multiple concession areas and restrooms on the main concourse level. A 300-seat dining room and luxury suites will comprise the tower’s second level, with additional luxury suites and a president’s box on the third level. The fourth level will create new space for media outlets and both home and visiting team coaches, while the fifth level will be dedicated to video and filming.

Upon completion, a new LED video board and sound system will also grace the field’s south end zone. The 1080P high definition video board will span nearly 3,200 square feet — more than double the size of the current display — and will be developed through a partnership with Daktronics, according to GoDuke.com. New interior and exterior lighting will also be added to brighten the complex.

Additional work will be done to improve guest services and first aid areas and to increase ADA accessibility and companion seating. The concourse will be repaved and nine sections of existing bleachers will be replaced with seats featuring the Blue Devils’ signature color. These seats — along with those created by the new tower — will increase capacity to nearly 40,000, up significantly from the current 33,941.

Beck Architecture PLLC of Atlanta has partnered with the university to redesign the stadium, which will also include the removal of the existing track to lower the field.

The nearly two-year construction process will begin after the Duke’s final home game against Wake Forest on Nov. 29 and should be completed in time for the 2016 season.

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ASU named HNTB Corp. of Kansas City, Mo. and Gould Evans of Phoenix to design to new facility, while joint venture of national firms Hunt Construction Group and Sundt Construction Inc., Hunt-Sundt, will serve as the project’s Construction Manager at Risk. All firms have considerable experience in sports building and education construction.

"We have reached an important milestone in the reinvention of Sun Devil Stadium," ASU Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson said in a statement naming the project partners. "Today’s announcement means we are shifting gears and that the vision starts being transformed into concrete plans."

“Gould Evans has a wealth of experience working with ASU, and HNTB is simply one of the best firms in the country at stadium design,” added ASU’s University Architect, Edmundo Soltero. “We believe we have the team in place to do something extraordinary.”

“Arizona State University is setting benchmarks for innovation, excellence and sustainability and we are honored to be a part of this important project,” said Gerardo Prado, a principal with HNTB, in a statement. “Football stadiums are part of the collegiate experience and we look forward to playing a role in helping people see what a world-class university does with its public venues.”

Sundt Senior Vice President and Southwest District Manager Marty Hedlund is also confident in the experience Hunt-Sundt will bring to the table. “Our concrete expertise and the ability to self-perform within the design, planning and construction phases gave us a competitive advantage in the selection process,” said. “Self-performing the majority of the work allows us to not only keep costs down, but also maintain a high degree of quality control that aligns with our sustainable design and construction principals.”

According to a release issued by the university, while final design is just beginning, the project will focus on sustainability, technology and innovation. Enhancements in the stadium are expected to improve both the athlete and fan experiences, and include an expanded student section, a new concourse, better seating, more restrooms, improved concessions, a premiere video board and sound system, in-stadium technology, extensive accessibility improvements and an air-conditioned club, along with other amenities.

Demolition off specific areas within the existing the new stadium is currently underway, and new construction is expected to begin in early 2015, with construction being completed in 2017. The project will be conducted in phases while the Sun Devil football team continues to play its regular seasons in the stadium. Funding will come primarily from private donations, naming rights and revenue created by the development of a new nearby athletic facilities district.

Sun Devil Stadium was originally designed by Edward J. Varney Associates and constructed by F.H. Antrim Construction Company. Over the years the stadium has hosted numerous big-ticket events such as the Super Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl and NFL games, and has appeared in several movies. The last major renovation to iconic structure came in 1988 when 1,700 seats were added to bring the facility to a capacity of 71,706.

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Baker Design Group of Boston served as lead architect for the 14,250-square-foot renovation, as well as the 4,600 square feet of new penthouse space. In addition to expanding the building’s useable space, the project will also improve Longfellow Hall’s existing infrastructure and accessibility. However, it will primarily allow for the relocation of several academic programs currently housed in leased spaces, advancing the university’s goal of creating a more cohesive campus.

Numerous internal improvements include upgrades to the building’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing and life safety systems. Thanks to the integration of new green and sustainable technologies, the redesign is also projected to reduce the building’s greenhouse gas footprint by 6 percent, bringing its overall reduction to 27 percent since 2006. The project is currently targeting LEED Gold certification.

Despite its new modern features, designers made sure the vertical addition will blend well into its surroundings, and compliment Longfellow Hall’s existing façade in scale, design and material. Construction of a temporary roof system will also ensure the project does not encounter any water infiltration to the floors below, and interior preservation work will help maintain the building’s ornate interiors.

The red brick structure was originally designed by Perry, Shaw and Hepburn in 1929, and was acquired by the HGSE in 1961 from Radcliffe College. To that point, the HGSE had been spread across several 19th century frame houses, as well as one 1840s era building still in use today by the university’s Science Center. Extensive renovations were completed on the building after its purchase, creating new classrooms, office space and a lower level library. The building is currently home to the HGSE’s Academic Affairs Office, Admissions, Career Services and other departments.

The Longfellow project itself is part of a multiphase HGSE campus master plan prepared jointly by Baker Design Group and Harvey H. Kaiser Associates Inc. (HHK). According to HHK, the highly interactive campus planning process included frequent meetings with a university steering committee, as well as multiple members of the planning staff and broader campus community.

The first phase of the three-phase master plan project aimed to consolidate existing facilities by improving space utilization. This entailed the construction of several new structures, enabling the HGSE to move away from leased buildings. Various planning options were developed throughout the following phases, and resulted in the summer of 2011 with recommendation implementations. Construction on Longfellow Hall began in late 2013, and is targeted to last through December 2014.

BOND of Everett, Mass. was selected to serve as the project’s construction manager. Like Baker Design Group, BOND also has experience working with Harvard, having successfully completed the university’s 510,000-square-foot Northwest Science Center in 2008, and the 180,000-square-foot student housing development 10 Akron that same year.

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