MILPITAS, Calif. — Milpitas Unified School District has broken ground on Phase III of its Milpitas Innovation Campus, starting the final construction stage of a multi-phase learning and career training hub in Milpitas.����

District and project leaders said the last phase will add dedicated facilities for workforce development and early childhood education research, building on campus components that opened in fall 2023 and fall 2024.����

Phase III is planned to deliver two separate buildings: a 9,000-square-foot Workforce Development Center and a 3,500-square-foot Early Childhood Education Research Center, according to QKA.����

MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan pointed to the campus’s broader impact, saying, “The multi-year development of this project at the intersection of global Silicon Valley has allowed us to see the benefits these facilities and programs are already bringing to our students, residents and businesses.”��

Jordan also described the role of the final phase within the overall campus plan: “Phase Three is the cornerstone of the MUSD Innovation Campus as it provides our industry, governance, community organizations and educators with a place to convene in partnership for work-based learning and durable skills development for career and life.”��

QKA said the Workforce Development Center will include meeting rooms, offices, conference rooms, a cafe,��kitchen��and lobby. The meeting rooms are designed to be reconfigured using operable partitions to create larger gathering space for conferences and��MUSD��Board of Education meetings. The kitchen is planned to open to a covered outdoor dining area��adjacent to��the campus’s existing main quad.����

The Early Childhood Education Research Center is described as having two classrooms with restrooms, along with breakout and administrative spaces.����

QKA President Aaron Jobson said the team emphasized flexibility across age groups and subject areas, noting the goal was to create “adaptable learning environments” that can support “a wide range of subjects and industries.”����

Project partners include QKA as designer for all phases, Blach Construction as builder and TBK Construction Management as construction manager.����

The release also notes sustainability measures such as designing toward Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) certification, using renewable power from MUSD’s existing photovoltaic system, and incorporating energy-efficient lighting, all-electric mechanical systems, stormwater��catchment��and water-efficient landscaping.����

Funding for the $90 million,��nearly 100,000-square-foot��Innovation Campus is attributed to the 2018 Bond Measure AA and California state-matching grants, with Phase��III��expected to complete in��summer 2027.����

This article is based on a press release originally published by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects on April 28, 2026.����

The post Milpitas USD Breaks Ground on Final Phase of Innovation Campus appeared first on �鶹������.

The post Milpitas USD Breaks Ground on Final Phase of Innovation Campus appeared first on �鶹������.

• Southbury and Middlebury voters backed Region 15’s $95.6 million 2026-27 operating budget at the May 6 referendum, according to posted unofficial results.��
• Voters also approved $224 million in bonding to replace��Gainfield��and Pomperaug elementary schools; the bond question passed overall even though Middlebury voters opposed it locally.��
• District materials say the plan is to build new PK–5 schools on the existing sites, keep students in their current buildings until the replacements are ready, and add dedicated preschool space while upgrading safety,��accessibility��and traffic circulation.��

SOUTHBURY, MIDDLEBURY, Conn. — Voters in Southbury and Middlebury approved Region 15’s $95.6 million operating budget for fiscal 2026-27 and authorized $224 million in school construction bonding to replace the district’s two oldest elementary buildings, according to referendum results released after the May 6 vote.����

The bond would support replacement buildings for��Gainfield��Elementary School and Pomperaug Elementary School, with the district planning to pursue state school construction grants that could significantly reduce the local share of eligible project costs.��

Unofficial results posted by the Town of Southbury show the Region 15 school budget passed 2,679-1,618 overall (Southbury: 2,048-1,059; Middlebury: 631-559). The construction financing question passed 2,474-1,820 overall, with Southbury approving 1,935-1,172 and Middlebury voting against the question 539-648, according to��.��

The Stamford Advocate reported the adopted budget totals $95.6 million, a $4.86 million (5.4%) increase over the current $90.78 million plan. The same report said the $224 million bond package would fund replacement schools on each existing site, with plans calling for larger buildings designed to serve about 550 students per school and include prekindergarten space, according to��.��

District project materials describe��Gainfield’s��original sections as dating to 1941 and Pomperaug opening in 1967, noting both facilities have aging infrastructure and systems nearing the end of their useful life. “many��of our systems and spaces are significantly aged, flawed, functioning unreliably, or��become��obsolete,” according to��.��

Region 15’s facilities materials say new construction — rather than renovation — was selected after feasibility work evaluated both approaches. The FAQ says early estimates compared roughly $80 million for renovation to about $86 million for new construction, but renovation would add significant costs and complications, including temporary swing space estimated at about $12 million and a longer timeline that could increase escalation costs, according to .����

On design and operations, the district says replacement buildings would address code and safety upgrades that older schools are exempt from because of their��age, and��improve circulation and traffic safety. The “Key Project �鶹������” page says the new layouts would funnel visitors from the main entrance to the front office for screening and bring the schools up to current fire and energy codes (including sprinklers and updated HVAC), while expanding parking and dedicated bus lanes, according to��.��

Project scope materials also cite improved traffic circulation at both campuses, including altered traffic patterns and a new access road intended to reduce congestion near Main Street and Poverty Road in Southbury. Region 15 further says the proposal is designed to keep schools��operating��throughout construction by allowing the district to occupy the existing buildings until the new schools are complete and ready for occupancy, according to��.��

Programming elements highlighted by the district include adding dedicated preschool classrooms and replacing makeshift instructional spaces (such as interventions held in closets or hallways) with purpose-built rooms and small-group areas, according to��.��

In its March 30 Board of Education newsletter, Region 15 said it sought voter approval in May to��submit��a school construction grant application by the state’s June 30 deadline. The newsletter also estimated total construction costs at about $224 million and��anticipated��roughly 64.2%��reimbursement of eligible costs under current assumptions, with a projected $80 million to $90 million local borrowing need, according to��.��

Before the May 6 vote, Region 15 said the Connecticut General Assembly approved a space waiver intended to support the district’s eligibility for its expected reimbursement rate while allowing some flexibility in shared spaces. “This legislation allows us to thoughtfully plan school spaces that meet student needs while also providing areas that can serve the wider community,” according to��.��

As the district moves toward a state funding application, Superintendent Joshua Smith described near-term steps, including governance and procurement work. “We will also begin the work of identifying building committees, grant application approvals and releasing a request for project proposals that will select an architectural firm for the design phase of the project,” according to��.��

The Stamford Advocate reported Smith hopes construction will begin in 2028 and that the new schools could be completed by 2030, subject to��state��grant approvals and other preconstruction steps, according to��.��

This article is based on reporting originally published by the Stamford Advocate, official materials posted by the Town of Southbury and Pomperaug Regional School District 15, and Region 15’s facilities project website in 2026. ()��

The post Connecticut Community Approves $95.6 Million Budget, $224 Million Bond for Two New Elementary Schools appeared first on �鶹������.

The post Connecticut Community Approves $95.6 Million Budget, $224 Million Bond for Two New Elementary Schools appeared first on �鶹������.

• Cal State San Marcos held a topping-out ceremony April 24 for Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering, marking the placement of the final structural beam.��
• The��roughly 70,000-square-foot, three-story building is slated to open in fall 2027 with laboratories, a robotics suite and collaboration-focused learning space.��
• CSUSM leaders say the project supports expansion of engineering programs, including growth in engineering enrollment from about 500 students to��nearly 2,000��and a planned industrial and systems engineering program.��
• The project follows a July 31, 2025,��groundbreaking for what CSUSM then called the Integrated Science and Engineering Building, an estimated $110 million facility designed by HGA with C.W. Driver Companies as general contractor.����
• A $10 million gift from Hunter Industries helped advance the project and is tied to CSUSM’s $200 million “Blueprint for the Future” fundraising campaign.��

SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Cal State San Marcos celebrated a key construction milestone for its new Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering, bringing campus leaders,��donors��and community supporters together April 24 to mark the building’s topping out.����

The ceremony, a construction tradition that includes signing and lifting the final structural beam, highlights progress on a��roughly 70,000-square-foot, three-story facility��— designed by HGA being built by general contractor C.W. Driver Companies — is��scheduled to open in fall 2027.����

University officials said the new��$110 million��hall is intended to create��additional��capacity for the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM) while supporting the campus’ emphasis on student success and social mobility.����

“This facility is social mobility in action.��It’s��about providing access for students, many of whom are the first in their families to go to college, stepping into fields that are shaping the future,” CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said, according to��an article from CSUSM��NewsCenter.��

Hunter Hall is expected to include��state-of-the-art��laboratories, a robotics suite and collaborative learning spaces. The project will help expand engineering enrollment from 500 to��nearly 2,000��students and support the launch of a new industrial and systems engineering program, building on existing electrical, software and computer engineering offerings.��

The three-story building��is being��constructed at the top of campus between Markstein Hall and the Arts Building and will��include teaching and research labs, classrooms, student support areas, staff offices, a��caf�and outdoor gathering spaces.��

Hunter Industries��has��committed a $10 million philanthropic investment to support construction��—��one of the largest gifts in university history.����

“An educated workforce is the foundation of a thriving economy,” said Greg Hunter, CEO of Hunter Industries, according to��an article from CSUSM��NewsCenter. “We are proud to deepen our partnership with CSUSM and invest in a facility that will empower students, strengthen our community and drive innovation for decades to come.”��

CSUSM said the gift helped advance its “Blueprint for the Future” campaign, which the university describes as its most ambitious fundraising effort to date, and positioned the project as part of broader plans to expand facilities and STEM programming.��

Get more weekly reports and��timely��updates by subscribing for free at��schoolconstructionnews.com/subscribe.��

The post CSUSM Marks Topping-Out Milestone for Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering appeared first on �鶹������.

The post CSUSM Marks Topping-Out Milestone for Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering appeared first on �鶹������.

• Colorado State University held an April 24 topping-out ceremony for the ATLAS Facility, a two-story laser research building on the Foothills Campus.
• The project team completed the structural steel frame for the 77,626-square-foot facility, with participants signing the final beam before placement.
• The $150 million public-private partnership includes CSU and Marvel Fusion, with additional support from the U.S. Department of Energy and other sources.
• Substantial completion is scheduled for December 2026, and the university anticipates an official opening in 2027.
• The specialized interior build-out will include cleanrooms and vibration-sensitive labs designed for high-performance laser research.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State University marked a major construction milestone April 24 with a topping-out ceremony for the Advanced Technology Lasers for Applications and Science, or ATLAS, Facility, a project officials say will become one of the world’s most advanced laser research centers.��

The event recognized completion of the structural steel frame for the two-story, 77,626-square-foot building now rising on the university’s Foothills Campus near the Department of Atmospheric Science building. During the ceremony, faculty,��students��and staff were invited to sign the final beam before it was placed atop the structure, a longstanding construction tradition symbolizing progress and safety.��

“As the United States works to lead in areas like fusion energy and directed-energy technologies, facilities like this are essential,” said Cassandra Moseley, Vice President for Research at CSU. “ATLAS will serve as a critical testbed, bringing together academia, industry and government to accelerate innovation, strengthen energy security and ensure our competitiveness on a global stage. I’m grateful for our industry and federal partners who have been — and will be critical in making this vision for scientific progress a reality.

When complete, the ATLAS Facility is expected to house one of the most powerful laser systems in the world, supporting research in��fusion��energy,��medicine��and fundamental science. University leaders have said the project is intended to position Colorado State as a global hub for next-generation laser science and related technologies.��

The project is being delivered through a $150 million public-private partnership involving Colorado State University and Marvel Fusion, with��additional��support from the U.S. Department of Energy and other funding sources. The facility was developed by Tetrad Real Estate, designed by architecture and engineering firm SWBR, and is being built by McCarthy Building Companies.��

Ground��was broken on the project in fall 2024. Substantial completion is scheduled for December 2026, with an official opening��anticipated��in 2027.��

With the steel frame now in place, construction will shift to��enclosure��of the building exterior, followed by installation of mechanical,��electrical��and plumbing systems. Crews will then begin the specialized interior build-out��required��for high-performance research operations, including cleanrooms, vibration-sensitive laboratories and precision environments needed to support advanced laser equipment.��

Facilities of this type typically require stringent environmental controls to��maintain��stable temperature,��humidity��and air quality, while also minimizing vibration and electromagnetic interference that could affect experiments.��Those technical requirements often make research laboratories more complex than conventional academic buildings.��

University officials have said the ATLAS Facility will expand Colorado State’s long-standing leadership in laser and plasma science while creating opportunities for faculty recruitment, student��training��and industry collaboration. The project��also is��expected to attract visiting researchers and federal research partnerships.��

Fusion energy research has drawn increasing international attention in recent years as governments, universities and private companies pursue technologies that could provide large-scale carbon-free power. Laser-based systems are among several approaches under development to achieve controlled fusion reactions.��

Beyond research, the facility is expected to generate economic benefits for the Fort Collins region during both construction and operation. Large capital projects typically support jobs across the design,��engineering��and construction sectors, while new research infrastructure can create longer-term demand for technical talent,��suppliers��and related business activity.��

The topping-out ceremony also highlighted continued momentum on Colorado State’s Foothills Campus, which has become a center for research initiatives tied to engineering, atmospheric science,��energy��and technology.��

Once operational, ATLAS is expected to serve as a flagship asset for the university and a prominent addition to the state’s research infrastructure. Officials say the facility’s combination of scale, technical sophistication and partnerships could make it a significant contributor to scientific discovery for years to come.��

Get more weekly reports and timely updates by subscribing for free at��schoolconstructionnews.com/subscribe.

The post Colorado State University Tops Out Advanced Technology Lasers for Applications and Science appeared first on �鶹������.

The post Colorado State University Tops Out Advanced Technology Lasers for Applications and Science appeared first on �鶹������.

• Tennessee��General Assembly approved $311 million recommended by Gov. Bill Lee for a new College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UT Health Sciences) in Memphis.
• The project totals $350 million and is planned as a 275,000- to 300,000-square-foot facility on Madison Avenue.
• UT Health Sciences said the building will support growth, including expanding the medical student cohort from 175 to 250 and the Physician Assistant Program from 30 to 60 students per year.
• The university said it must raise an��additional��$50 million in philanthropic support; construction is targeted to begin in late fall 2026, with substantial completion��anticipated��in 2029.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. —��State lawmakers have approved $311 million in funding for a new College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building at UT Health Sciences, a project university leaders say will expand training capacity and support statewide workforce needs.��

The funding, recommended by Gov. Bill Lee, supports a $350 million facility planned for the Memphis campus on Madison Avenue.��The Tennessee General Assembly approved the funding April 17 for construction of the new facility, which UT Health Sciences describes as a focal point for its Memphis campus and a major investment in health care education statewide.��

The university plans a 275,000- to 300,000-square-foot building on Madison Avenue, between the College of Pharmacy Building at 881 Madison Ave. and the site of the former Holiday Inn at Madison Avenue and Pauline Street.��

“This is a transformative step for UT Health Sciences, as well as for health and health care of the people of Tennessee,” Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD, said, adding that the building is intended to serve as “a hub for training future health care professionals to practice collaborative, state-of-the-art care across Tennessee,” according to��.��

UT Health Sciences said the added space would allow the College of Medicine to expand its class size from 175 to 250 students per cohort. The Physician Assistant Program would also be able to grow from 30 to 60 students per year, the university said.��

Project leaders tied the investment to workforce projections. “This is an investment in continuing to meet the significant deficit in physicians and physician assistants in the state of Tennessee, with projections suggesting that there will be a need for 6,000 additional physicians in the state by 2030,” Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Raaj Kurapati said, according to��.��

Beyond classroom and simulation space, the university said the facility will support telehealth training and increase online educational opportunities for the College of Medicine and other colleges, with the goal of growing academic certificate programs and enrollment. UT Health Sciences also said the project is expected to bolster its response to rural health care challenges in Tennessee.��

As Tennessee’s only statewide academic health science center, UT Health Sciences said it expects the new building to enable the university to graduate an��additional��1,450 health care professionals practicing in various fields during its first five years of operation.��

The state’s allocation��represents��the lead investment, but UT Health Sciences said it must raise an��additional��$50 million in philanthropic support to complete the project. That total includes $39 million toward building costs, plus��additional��funding for specialized equipment and program support.��

UT Health Sciences said HOK conducted��a strategic��space inventory and developed programming for the building. The university has selected Memphis-based brg3s architects to design the facility in collaboration with HOK. After��remaining��state approvals are received, the university said it aims to begin construction in late fall 2026, with substantial completion��anticipated��in 2029.��

This article is based on reporting originally published by UTHSC News on April 17, 2026.��

The post Tennessee Lawmakers Approve $311 Million for New UT Health Sciences College of Medicine Building appeared first on �鶹������.

The post Tennessee Lawmakers Approve $311 Million for New UT Health Sciences College of Medicine Building appeared first on �鶹������.

• Gordian’s 13th annual��State of Facilities in Higher Education��report puts the deferred capital renewal backlog at��$156 per gross square foot, up��8%��over the past year.����

• The report says capital investment funding for existing buildings is��73.5%��of��what’s��needed to prevent further backlog growth, with operating budgets��18.5%��below target.����

• Staffing pressure is also rising: the report says custodial coverage responsibilities are up��27% since 2007, with public institutions seeing steeper increases than private institutions.����

• Gordian points to strategic reinvestment,��benchmarking��and proactive maintenance as levers to stabilize backlogs and support long-term planning.����

GREENVILLE, S.C. —��Deferred capital renewal needs at North American colleges and universities climbed to��$156 per gross square foot, an��8%��year-over-year increase, according to Gordian’s latest��State of Facilities in Higher Education��report.����

The��Greenville, S.C.-headquartered company��said the data underscores continued underinvestment in existing buildings and warned that, without meaningful reinvestment, deferred needs are likely to continue rising.����

Gordian’s 13th annual report frames the sector’s growing backlog as the result of persistent funding gaps colliding with institutional change. The company said capital investment funding for existing buildings is at��73.5%��of what is��required��to keep deferred needs from expanding, and that operating budgets��remain��18.5%��below target levels.����

“This year’s findings reinforce what we hear daily from leaders across the higher education sector: without sustained and strategic reinvestment, institutions risk deeper operational challenges,” said Arul Elumalai,��President of Gordian, in a statement. “Our goal with this report is to equip campus decision-makers with the clear, data-driven insights they need to prioritize the right actions now.”����

Gordian said the analysis draws on its database of��43,000 campus buildings��representing��1.1 billion gross square feet��of space, which it uses to benchmark facilities conditions and spending patterns across North American higher education.����

Alongside capital constraints, the report also points to workforce strain. Gordian said the amount of space each custodian��is responsible for��has increased��27% since 2007, with larger jumps reported at public institutions compared with private ones.����

The report’s findings also highlight how structural underinvestment and rising deferred maintenance can restrict campus flexibility and push institutions toward reactive—often costlier—facility management, Gordian said. As a path forward, the company said campuses can use data-driven benchmarking, proactive maintenance��practices��and strategic reinvestment to help stabilize backlog growth and support long-term decision-making.����

“While campuses face continued pressure, there is genuine opportunity ahead,” said Pete Zuraw,��Vice��President of��Market��Strategy and��Development for Gordian, in a statement. “With reliable data and guidance from trusted industry partners, institutional leaders can make informed decisions that strengthen their facilities and position them for long-term resilience.”��

Gordian said it has published the report for more than a decade and collaborates with higher education societies including APPA, NACUBO and SCUP, adding that the report includes survey data and commentary from higher education leaders.����

This article is based on reporting originally published by Gordian on��April 8, 2026.��

The post Higher Ed Capital Renewal Backlog Rises 8% to $156 Per Gross Square Foot, Report Shows appeared first on �鶹������.

The post Higher Ed Capital Renewal Backlog Rises 8% to $156 Per Gross Square Foot, Report Shows appeared first on �鶹������.

• The��San Diego Community College District’s��Saville Performing Arts Center Replacement project at San Diego City College��has moved into the schematic design phase.��
• The project will replace the existing Saville Theatre with a new performing arts facility of about��28,000 square feet��designed for academic programs and community use.����
• Scope includes demolition, hazardous materials abatement, utility��relocation��and upgrades, plus site improvements including new walkways and ADA-compliant paths of travel.��
• The work is part of the Measure HH Bond Program, approved in November 2024, totaling��$3.5 billion.��

SAN DIEGO —��The Saville Theatre Replacement Project��at��, part of the district’s Measure HH Bond Program,��has��officially moved��from the programming phase into schematic design.��The project will replace the existing Saville Theatre with a new,��approximately 28,000-square-foot��performing arts facility designed to support academic programs and community use.

The new center will be a modern, flexible venue capable of accommodating a range of performances and events, supporting both campus programming and broader community use.��The��programming��process brought together��faculty��and��staff��members, who��joined the��Design-Build team of����and����for��a series of workshops and discussions��to help shape the project vision, offering insights on��instructional needs,��room configurations, and��how��to best��support teaching,��learning��and live performance.����

Work��will include��the abatement, demolition, and removal of the existing Saville Theatre and the removal and replacement of associated site utilities and appurtenances in alignment with the campus’s Master Plan.��New construction of approximately 20,000 assignable square feet (ASF) includes a street-level lobby with Box Office, restrooms, and manager’s office. A��mew��main theatre will include 250–350 seats, including stage, orchestra��pit��and control room as well as a scene shop and costume shop. Other support spaces include rehearsal rooms, recording/editing��spaces��and dance studios.����

Planned exterior work also includes new walkways, sustainable landscaping and irrigation, signage��and ADA-compliant paths of travel��that will connect to a future outdoor��amphitheatre.��

“We are honored to continue our partnership with the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) on this important project,” said Ryan Nessen,��Senior��Vice��President��and California��District��Manager, according to��a press release from Sundt Construction.����

“This selection reflects the trust we have built over more than two decades and our commitment to delivering high-quality facilities that serve students and the broader community,” Nessen��added.��

Measure HH, approved in November 2024, is a��$3.5 billion��bond program that will provide��state-of-the-art��educational facilities, address long-deferred maintenance needs, and support accessibility and equity across the district’s colleges.��

The project team also includes structural engineering firm KPFF, civil engineer Latitude 33, and mechanical and electrical engineer MA Engineers/Johnson Consulting Engineers.��

The post San Diego City College Performing Arts Project Enters Schematic Design Phase appeared first on �鶹������.

The post San Diego City College Performing Arts Project Enters Schematic Design Phase appeared first on �鶹������.

What You Need to Know��

• The project team marked a topping-out milestone for the Saban Center now rising in Tuscaloosa’s River District.��

• Plans call for a 118,000-square-foot complex on a 7.71-acre site along the Black Warrior River, with a 70-foot glass tower as a centerpiece.��

• Campus partners named include the State of Alabama STEM Hub, the Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre and IGNITE (formerly the Children’s Hands-On Museum).��

• Design/delivery partners cited include Steinberg Hart (with Davis Architects), Stone Building Company,��CambridgeSeven��and Theatre Projects.��

Learn More��

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Saban Center reached a key construction benchmark March 30 as crews and project partners celebrated the building’s topping out at the future STEM-and-arts��learning campus in Tuscaloosa’s River District.��

The facility, described as a first-of-its-kind campus combining science, technology, engineering and math with arts programming, is expected to open in 2027.��

The marble-clad complex is being designed by Steinberg Hart in collaboration with Birmingham-based Davis Architects, with Stone Building Company serving as general contractor. Newly released renderings depict a series of curved pavilions connected to a transparent central tower.��

“Saban Center is deeply personal to us—we’ve been involved every step of the way, working closely with the design team to shape a place where children of all ages can explore their curiosity and imagine what’s possible for their futures,” according to��.��

Renderings also show the building set into a natural slope on the 7.71-acre site, intended to reduce the perceived height at street level while creating a prominent landmark from the north. Project materials describe multiple outdoor approaches meant to position the campus as a public, inclusive destination for families and school groups.��

The exterior facade is planned to use locally sourced recycled marble from the Alabama Marble Mineral & Mining Company. Inside, the design team selected regionally sourced woods and metals as part of a sustainability approach that emphasizes local sourcing, material��reuse��and resilient construction.��

At the center of the complex, a 70-foot glass tower is expected to house an 18-foot illuminated globe described in project materials as a beacon for the evolving River District and a symbol of discovery and innovation.��

Led by Nick and Terry Saban and Nick’s Kids Foundation in partnership with the City of Tuscaloosa, the campus is being delivered through a public-private collaboration that also includes the State of Alabama, which plans to��establish��the State of Alabama STEM Hub on-site.��

Project leaders framed the building design as integral to the learning mission. “The design of the Saban Center reflects a shared belief that architecture can actively support learning and discovery,” according to��.��

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox also positioned the campus as a workforce-development asset, saying Saban Center “will be a catalyst for building Alabama’s future-ready workforce.”

This article is based on reporting originally published by Saban Center on March 30, 2026.��

The post Saban Center Tops Out in Tuscaloosa, Moving STEM-and-Arts Learning Campus Toward 2027 Opening appeared first on �鶹������.

The post Saban Center Tops Out in Tuscaloosa, Moving STEM-and-Arts Learning Campus Toward 2027 Opening appeared first on �鶹������.

What You Need to Know��

• Lincoln Memorial University��hosted a��grand opening for its��Orange Park, Fla.,��health sciences campus,��on��March 23.����

• The��12-acre��site spans��about��130,000 square feet��across two buildings and will house osteopathic medicine and veterinary medicine programs.����

• LMU says the Orange Park location positions LMU-DCOM as the��first four-year medical school in the greater Jacksonville area.����

• The campus is slated to open in��fall 2026��in a newly renovated��85,000-square-foot��facility for a class of��100.����

Learn More��

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) has expanded its health sciences footprint in Northeast Florida with an Orange Park campus that will house osteopathic medicine and veterinary medicine programs. The campus — which spans approximately 130,000 square feet across two buildings on 12 acres — is designed for interprofessional, clinically focused training, with inaugural cohorts expected to begin this fall. The university hosted a formal grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 23.��

In��an��announcement, LMU President Dr. Jason McConnell framed the expansion as a milestone for health education in the state. “The Orange Park campus represents a significant step forward,” according to��.����

The campus is home to the LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) and the LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park (LMU-OPCVM) and��is intended to strengthen the regional health care workforce.��LMU also positions the Orange Park site as a regional medical education milestone. The location establishes LMU-DCOM as “the first four-year medical school in the greater Jacksonville area,” and that the program will mirror LMU-DCOM curricula offered in Harrogate and Knoxville, Tenn.����

LMU states that DCOM at LMU-Orange Park will offer the same four-year, full-time academic and clinical program as the Harrogate and Knoxville campuses,��and that the new campus is expected to��serve��a��class of 100.��The facility is designed to support innovative, clinically focused education and to strengthen the regional health care workforce.��

In a statement, the institution also highlighted the��“One Health”��approach��that brings human and veterinary medicine together on one campus. “Bringing human and veterinary medicine��together… reinforces the importance of a One Health perspective,” according to��.����

For LMU-DCOM, Dr. James Toldi,��Campus��Dean for the Orange Park site, said the new campus is intended to support clinical training capacity. “We are creating meaningful clinical training opportunities,” he said in a statement.��

On the veterinary side,��the��LMU-OPCVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program is structured as a three-year program emphasizing early clinical experience and a distributive clinical model.��The institution��also cited��planned partnerships, including with the Jacksonville Humane Society and Clay County Animal Services, to place students in community-based learning environments.����

“Bringing human and veterinary medicine together on one campus reinforces the importance of a One Health perspective��in��how we educate and serve,” McConnell said. “Orange Park allows us to extend that commitment into Florida in a meaningful and lasting way.”����

This article is based on information published by Lincoln Memorial University via PR Newswire on March 4, 2026, and on LMU’s DCOM at Orange Park program page.��

The post LMU Hosts Grand Opening for Orange Park Health Sciences Campus Ahead of 2026 Inaugural Cohorts appeared first on �鶹������.

The post LMU Hosts Grand Opening for Orange Park Health Sciences Campus Ahead of 2026 Inaugural Cohorts appeared first on �鶹������.

TRENTON, N.J.��—��New Jersey Gov.��Mikie Sherrill delivered her inaugural budget address��earlier this month, outlining her��administration’s plan to��protect children’s futures��through a��$12.4 billion��investment in K-12 schools for FY 2027.

“My budget is focused on ensuring kids in New Jersey have access to the best education and brightest possible future,” said Sherrill. “The budget includes a record level of K-12 school funding, while acknowledging that much more work is needed to make sure students and taxpayers get the best return on our investment. It lays the foundation for future improvements – like stronger academic and mental health outcomes, shared services, and more efficient spending – to better support children from birth through graduation and strengthen schools statewide.”

The $60.7 billion budget includes a proposed surplus of $5.4 billion, while redirecting over 74 percent of the total budget back into New Jersey communities in the form of grants-in-aid for property tax relief, social services, and higher education, as well as state aid to schools, municipalities, and counties.

Among plans to increase affordability and increase government accountability, the budget prioritizes investing in education. Sherrill proposes a record breaking $12.4 billion for K-12 schools in FY 2027, the largest amount in state history and a $370 million increase over last year’s funding. The budget also includes a record $1.4 billion for Preschool Education Aid. Sherrill added that she looks forward to working with the Legislature to modernize and stabilize the school funding formula.������

In preparation for New Jersey’s first cell phone-free school year this fall, the proposal includes $125,000 for the new Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness in the Department of Health. The office will research and make recommendations to guide responsible use of social media platforms among youth. The budget also includes $500,000 for a new Social Media Research Center at one of New Jersey’s higher education institutions.����

An allocation of $15 million for high-impact tutoring — double the amount of FY 2026 m— would help nearly 100 more districts and 13,500 more students, with the goal to accelerate learning and address academic achievement gaps spurred by the pandemic. The budget would also provide 21,000 schoolchildren with free meals through the Working-Class Families Anti-Hunger Act.��

The announcement reflects a continuation of policy choices aligned with Sherrill’s goals to modernize and stabilize the School Funding Reform Act, which provide the blueprint for New Jersey’s state aid formula. The budget limits reductions in state aid to no more than 3 percent, which will prevent the loss of an additional $188.4 million for school districts. Without a limit to cuts, some districts have faced losses of up to 60 percent of their state aid in recent years. These limits on reductions are offset by a 6 percent limit on state aid increases, ensuring overall stability while recognizing the need for annual adjustments.

The New Jersey Department of Education will use a three-year average when determining local fair share, which is the amount of funding a local school district is expected to contribute toward its own budget based on its property wealth and income. Using a multi-year average minimizes year-to-year fluctuations.

To ensure state aid reflects the real needs of districts, the NJDOE will use actual special education enrollment numbers to determine funding levels, instead of the approach used in years past of relying on a statewide average for all districts. State aid allocations are available on .

The post Proposed New Jersey Budget Would Funnel Record-Breaking $12.4 Billion to K-12 Schools appeared first on �鶹������.

The post Proposed New Jersey Budget Would Funnel Record-Breaking $12.4 Billion to K-12 Schools appeared first on �鶹������.