By Lindsey Coulter��

FULLERTON, Calif. — California State University Fullerton has reached a major construction milestone on its Engineering and Computer Science Innovation Hub, marking the topping out of structural steel work on��the $54 million project. The building is being constructed next to the college’s existing Engineering Building and is expected to open by fall 2027.��

C.W. Driver Companies is leading construction of the���ұ�Բ������-���������Ա����Innovation Hub,��a 45,000-square-foot facility designed to support the next generation of engineers, computer��scientists��and technology leaders. University leaders and project team members broke ground on the project in June.��

The Innovation Hub is intended to serve as a collaborative, hands-on learning environment and a catalyst for discovery and industry innovation in Southern California. Planned features include dry labs supporting disciplines such as computing, robotics, materials testing and cybersecurity; makerspaces and equipment rooms to promote collaboration and efficiency; and student lounges and a wellness area designed to support student well-being.��

Cal State Fullerton leaders said the project is aimed at shaping the future of engineering and computer science education while strengthening ties between the university and regional industries.��

“The ECS Innovation Hub��represents��more than concrete and beams. It is a bold promise to our entire university and across all majors,” CSUF President Ronald Rochon said��in a statement. “It is a promise that we will equip our students with not only the technical skills, but also the collaborative spaces, real-world experiences and the mentorship needed to thrive in today’s world and lead in tomorrow’s world.”��

Susan Barua, former dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, said the project reflects a broader vision for education and innovation. Barua, who retired earlier this year after a 37-year career at the university, now serves as strategic adviser for the $85 million project supported by state,��campus��and philanthropic funding.��

“We break ground not just on a building, but on a vision for what education, innovation and collaboration can achieve,” Barua said. “This hub will prepare our students not just to participate in the workforce, but to shape it.”����

The university received a $67.5 million investment from the state for the project’s first phase, with��additional��philanthropic efforts underway to expand and enhance programming.��A 2018 university-commissioned space feasibility study found the college needed��additional��instructional space due to enrollment growth. Since then, enrollment has increased by 30%, and the number of degrees conferred has risen��nearly 250%��over the past decade, Barua��added.��

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By Lindsey Coulter

SAN FRANCISCO — City College of San Francisco has officially opened its new Student Success Center, a $141.8 million facility designed to consolidate more than 30 student services under one roof and provide a clear gateway to the Ocean Campus.

The 80,000-square-foot building will serve as a centralized hub for student resources and a new entrance to the 67-acre campus. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Aug. 28, marking the completion of the progressive design-build project delivered by XL Construction and Gensler, in collaboration with construction manager Kitchell.

The Student Success Center houses admissions and records for both credit and non-credit students, financial aid, outreach, student affairs, student health services, student activities, counseling and tutoring as well as career, transfer and international student counseling. The all-electric facility is LEED Silver certified and net-zero ready.

“As a community college grad and someone who has been deeply involved in this project since 2020, I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and eager to see the positive impact it will have on our students and community,” said Erin Allred, Project Executive at XL Construction, in a statement. “It is because of the collaborative delivery approach CCSF chose that we are standing here celebrating the building’s opening today.”

The design emphasizes efficiency and collaboration. By consolidating departments that were previously spread across 10 campus buildings, planners reduced the overall space needed by 6,000 square feet. That optimization allowed the college to invest in more durable finishes and building systems.

“The building is like a flag for CCSF at the corner of Frida Kahlo and Ocean Avenue, saying Welcome!, We are here!” said Sandy Mendler, Design Principal and Education Practice Leader for Gensler, in a statement. “The design is all about offering a clear front door to campus, and a ‘flow through’ lobby that will encourage students to become familiar with the building and the services it offers all in one place, rather than distributed across the campus.”

CCSF Chancellor Kimberlee S. Messina, who began her role July 1 after six years leading Spokane Falls Community College, called the project a major step in improving equitable access.

“We’re thrilled that academic counseling, tutoring, admissions and records, the career center, and transfer center, the Queer Resource Center, and much more are under one roof,” Messina said in a statement. “Centralizing these resources in a single, accessible location enhances the overall student experience, particularly for historically marginalized populations. This integrated model of service delivery is a strategic investment in equitable access, student retention and long-term enrollment growth.”

The Student Success Center was designed through CCSF’s shared governance process, incorporating input from across the college community. Leaders said the facility will play a critical role in enrollment growth and student retention by providing easier access to essential services.

“First and foremost, the opportunity to come to City College is open to everyone; we don’t have entrance exams,” said Dr. Lisa Cooper Wilkins, CCSF Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, in a statement. “You can get an associate degree to start your own business or to begin your career, or transfer to a college or university in California and beyond. We’re proud that many of our students can attend for free if they are eligible San Francisco residents via our Free City program.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured remarks from key stakeholders and members of the project team, followed by a celebratory reception inside the new center.

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By Lindsey Coulter

When devastating wildfires rendered nearly 40% of Palisades Charter High School’s campus unusable in January, administrators at the Los Angeles school faced a daunting question: how to resume in-person education for thousands of students on short notice.

While students continued their education via Zoom, school officials and project partners found a more concrete solution in the form of an unlikely structure—a 100,000-square-foot former Sears department store. The building was renovated and retrofitted in just over a month into a fully functioning temporary high school for Palisades Charter High School’s nearly 2,500 students, educators and staff members.

The fast-tracked success of the project was driven by a coordinated team of experienced partners. Led by C.W. Driver, a general contractor with a long history of K-12 construction, the project involved stakeholders including Gensler, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Fire Department. Key subcontractors included AJ Kirkwood & Associates, ProCraft Construction, ACCO, Raymond Group and Continental Painting, among others.

A Blank Canvas with Built-In Advantages

While the former department store was never intended to host classrooms, its existing infrastructure, modern upgrades and open-plan layout helped accelerate the transformation to a temporary home for education.

The building had already been partially renovated in 2020 by developers who converted the four-story structure with plans for filling it with offices and restaurants. Those plans were derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic, but the completed work provided the project team with a critical head start. Improvements that were made prior to the conversion—including seismic reinforcement, new HVAC systems, an upgraded electrical system, and code-compliant fire and life safety measures—allowed the design and construction teams to bypass long-lead procurement items and some of the more costly equipment of the project.

“The foundational attributes of the Sears building allowed the team to create a functional, safe, and surprisingly effective temporary high school environment in an exceptionally short timeframe,” said Jaime Macartney, project executive at C.W. Driver Companies.

Each floor of the building offered 20,000 to 30,000 square feet of open layout—essentially, a structural blank canvas. That flexibility proved critical. Cost- and time-effective partition walls were deployed quickly to carve out roughly 90 classrooms and various support spaces.

The steel-and-concrete structure offered a robust shell, while its adjacency to public transit and ample parking made it logistically appealing. A pedestrian tunnel connecting directly to the drop-off area was another bonus for student and parent access.

“The entire construction timeline was approximately five weeks, with crews working six days a week in swing shifts, totaling around 25 active workdays,” Macartney noted.

That kind of pace required not only expertise, but relentless commitment. According to the firm, team members relocated temporarily to stay near the site. Senior Superintendent Ray Weaver led the on-site crew with what colleagues described as “decisive leadership.”

“There were no finalized plans or permits when we started,” Macartney said. “The team had to operate at an unprecedented pace, coordinating around the clock with Gensler, subcontractors and regulatory agencies.”

Retail Roots, Educational Challenges

Despite the building’s advantages, adapting a former retail space into a place of learning required significant ingenuity and problem-solving. Chief among the challenges were determining ideal circulation and adjusting acoustics to better support learning and focus.

“The building met code for life safety features like elevators and stairwells, but the building conveyance was not designed for high-frequency, high-volume movement, such as class transitions every hour,” Macartney said.

Navigating the space proved difficult in the first weeks of occupancy, especially with several thousand students and staff members circulating simultaneously. The design team and school officials collaborated closely to refine pathways and mitigate congestion through operational tweaks.

Mitigating noise, however, was an even trickier obstacle. “The open, concrete-and-steel structure allowed sound to travel easily—so much so that someone could speak from one end of the building and be heard on the other,” Macartney explained.

To resolve this, a multi-layered acoustic strategy was implemented. Partition walls were enhanced with carpet donated by companies including Mohawk and Shaw, and acoustic wall panels were installed. Additionally, “InsulQuilt” sound blankets were suspended from the ceiling deck to the top of the walls.

Read more about the effort to quickly create a safe and stable place for students to learn, connect and continue their education — and how teams navigated supply-chain challenges — in the May/June issue of �鶹������.

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“As we educate future leaders and advance the research of a technology-driven, free-market economy, new world-class facilities for the Daniels School of Business will help us achieve excellence at scale,” Purdue President Mung Chiang said at the groundbreaking ceremony.��

When complete, the Mitch Daniels School of Business will be the second-largest classroom building on the university’s��West Lafayette campus. In addition to flexible spaces for academic instruction and conferences, it will also feature modern teaching and research labs for financial trading, data visualization, behavioral research and experiential learning.��

Purdue officials began working with the Chicago office of global architecture firm Gensler in December 2022��to envision the facility, developing a design that would honor the business school’s past while offering the flexibility to evolve with future educational needs and trends. The building’s interconnected nature brings together a variety of learning environments and experiences that “instigate change and define the future of research and business through the convergence of critical thinking, experiential learning and a culture driven by collaboration” according to a statement by the Gensler team. ��

The Gensler design team was further challenged to seamlessly integrate business, technology and engineering learning spaces with advising offices and flexible areas for collaboration, conferences and events. Working closely with partner firm BSA Life Structures, the various programmatic elements will be joined cohesively in a single structure that anchors the south end of campus and serves as��“a bold symbol of the Daniels School of Business’ forward-looking vision.”��

The reimagined Mitch Daniels School of Business, which will also include sophisticated interiors inspired by modern corporate workplaces, was��driven by Purdue’s aspirations to rank among the top tier of business schools in the nation. It also speaks to the school’s foundational pillars, which prioritize the integration of technology, transformative learning opportunities and an increase in enrollment. ��

“Practiced with integrity, business careers are the noblest of life choices,” said Mitch Daniels, the 12th president of Purdue University and the building’s namesake, in a statement. “They create new jobs and wealth for others and bring into being the resources which the public and nonprofit sectors take to pursue their goals. This modernized school of business will send out its graduates armed with a sense of mission and the tools to fulfill that mission in the most complex of enterprises.” ��

“Not only will this building illustrate the university’s commitment to the future of business education, it will also serve as a focal point for the seamless integration of business and technology, reflecting our mission to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow,” added Jim Bullard, the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean of the Mitch Daniels School of Business, in a statement. “It will foster an environment where students, faculty, staff, alumni and corporate partners can thrive, innovate and lead while showcasing what building the future of business is all about.”��

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HOLLISTER, Calif.—The design-build team of Gensler, Quattrocchi Kwok Architects, and Blach Construction is pressing forward with a new campus for the Bay Area Gavilan Community College. The new campus will replace the junior college’s original layout, which was realized in 1919. The design-build plan calls for the new Gavilan campus to be net-zero when completed this fall, with a future solar array in the planning as well.

“Our new Gavilan College San Benito County campus will greatly improve access to higher education in Hollister, San Juan Bautista, Tres Pinos and other rural county areas,” said Gavilan Superintendent Pedro Avila. “Approximately 2,000 of our currently enrolled students live in Hollister and other San Benito County areas. This decades-long-awaited campus fulfills our vision of expanding academic opportunities to these communities to support upward mobility.”

The first phase of the work entails a 34,000-square-foot “campus core” building that will be home to a welcome center, various classrooms, testing center, community room, dining area, offices and various learning laboratories. Phase 1 also entails work on parking lots, landscaping, entry plaza as well as outdoor learning spaces.

The progressive design-build model allows for seamless teamwork and budgetary control throughout the construction process. Following the school’s issuing of the original request for proposal, Blach Construction leaned on its previous relationships with both Gensler and QKA to imagine a joint strategy.

“Not every day do we have an opportunity to enhance a deserving community with an entirely new, much-desired community college campus, let alone partner with two renowned education designers and an inclusive client to do it,” Brad Fannin, project director at Blach Construction, said of the general contractor’s work at Gavilan. “We are thrilled to be leveraging our extensive design-build expertise, integrating seamlessly with our partners to ensure the Gavilan San Benito County Campus project remains on schedule, within budget and, when complete, exceeds the higher education needs of students in and around the greater Hollister area.”

Added QKA President Aaron Jobson: “Designing a new college campus is a rare and exhilarating privilege. Since the onset of the progressive design-build contract, the team was able to respond to multiple project challenges, including changes in educational approach post-COVID, approval delays, and a volatile cost environment. Our seamless collaboration has resulted in optimal design, innovative approaches to the construction process, and cost and time efficiencies for the College.”

“We were delighted to join as the lead designer for Gavilan’s new San Benito Campus—an important new facility designed with the community, for the community,” said Gensler principal-in-charge and education practice leader Sandy Mendler. “When complete, this initial phase of the campus will provide a full range of enhanced facilities and supportive services for students pursuing careers in science and other high demand fields, while also serving as a dynamic hub for community gathering.”

Funding for the project came from Measure X, passed by Santa Clara and San Benito County voters in 2018.

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NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—General contracting firm Gilbane Building Company has broken ground on a new annex educational facility for California State University, Northridge.

As designed by Gensler, the 62,000-square-foot, $43.4-million Sierra Annex will be cited adjacent to the existing Sierra Hall. Sierra Annex will be home to a 3,000-square-foot main lecture hall, seminar rooms, classrooms and a few additional lecture halls. Gensler’s design incorporates natural lighting, and the hall’s flow of space is meant to encourage collaboration. The classrooms are also designed to be flexible such that they can be adapated for multiple uses.

Gensler and Gilbane previously collaborated on CSUN’s Associated Students Sustainability Center, which came online in 2017. In a recent announcement on the firm’s website, Gilbane’s area manager Raul Rosales said that his company enjoys a long-term working relationship with CSUN and Gensler, and thus this project offered an opportunity to continue such a collaboration.

“We are excited to be working on this inspiring project that will not only be an iconic building on campus, but improve the student’s academic experience as well,” he said.

The Sierra Annex is scheduled to debut for the fall 2023 semester, with additional work to be completed sometime in 2025.

Gilbane was founded in 1870 and remains a privately run, family-operated firm, with nearly 50 offices worldwide. Their Los Angeles office has been engaged in the Sierra Annex project.

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PHOENIX—McCarthy Building Companies is rolling out the metaphorical welcome mat at South Mountain Community College’s new Science Complex. The $13.6 million project is fully built out, with students anticipated to commence instruction there in the spring.

McCarthy’s job was to meld two existing buildings with an entirely ground-up additional structure to create the SMCC Science Complex, which will eventually serve approximately 5,000 students across the STEM fields.

McCarthy renovated nearly 35,000 square feet of space, and the skeletal structure of those two older buildings were incorporated into the frame for the redesigned complex. This allowed the project to move along at a brisker clip and save money at the same time.

The redesigned Science Complex will host a 19,000-square-foot Physical and Life Science building, and offer state-of-the-art laboratories and support space, faculty offices, classrooms and even a modern cadaver lab—which will help the school’s healthcare students to gain practical knowledge.

McCarthy added structural connections between the previously existing Physical Science and Life Science buildings. Additionally, the general contractor relocated the complex’s botanical garden.

In the fall of 2020, McCarthy previously worked with SMCC personnel to commence the school’s Construction Trades Institute, which offers crash courses in carpentry, framing, electrical and plumbing trades.

“McCarthy values STEM education programs and having the opportunity to be part of making this project a reality in South Phoenix is something we’re all very proud of,” Mike Gonzalez, vice president of McCarthy Building Companies Education group, said in a recent statement. “Thanks to the extensive collaboration with SMCC and its program end-users, the designer and our trade partners, we found solutions to challenges, and this remarkable new Science Complex is being delivered earlier than planned to help more SMCC students pursue their dreams.”

Gensler came aboard the SMCC Science Complex redesign as both architect of record and design architect. Gensler’s design incorporated a “forward-thinking” layout as well as a modern look and feel to the complex.

“We are proud to have an impact on the next generation of STEM leaders in our community with the completion of the new Science Complex,” Martha dePlazaola Abbott, principal and managing director at Gensler Phoenix, said of the project. “The design of the new building enhances the on-campus learning experience with high-functioning classroom spaces and adjacent areas to foster connections and collaboration.”

“Our students deserve a space to pursue their dreams of becoming engineers, scientists and medical professionals,” SMCC President Dr. Shari Olson said of the expansion at her campus. “The community in South Phoenix needed this new facility, and we’re bringing it to them with the latest technology and labs to help students pursue their desired careers.”

Subcontractors at the SMCC project included Urban Energy Solutions Inc., S&H Steel, Wholesale Floors, SKF Tile & Stone, Gothic Landscape, Marks Valley Grading and Kinkaid Civil Construction.

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TAMPA, Fla.—International construction and development firm Skanska, based in Sweden, has partnered with acclaimed architecture firm Gensler on the expansion of the University of South Florida’s Research Park, a mixed-use laboratory and office building facility.

The $27 million, three-story development encompasses 120,000 square feet of office and laboratory space in USF’s life sciences building. The interior now offers collaborative learning and experimentation areas, office space, as well as a ground-level dining commons and rooftop deck three floors above.

The Research Park at USF is meant to fashion an environment wherein innovation in an academic setting will go hand in hand with economic growth in the greater Tampa Bay area. As designed by Gensler, the Research Park will act as a welcoming space where scientists and project designers can collaborate at a state-of-the-art facility designed to stoke experimentation and discovery.

Thanks to this renovation, the Research Park’s capacity has increased by approximately 30 percent. Among other disciplines, the Research Park will focus on both tech and life sciences throughout the South Florida region.

“Given our trajectory working with the University of South Florida, our team is proud to deliver another state-of-the-art facility that will allow the university to continue to make meaningful investments in advancing life sciences and biotechnology,” Michael C. Brown, executive vice president and general manager of Skanska USA’s building operations in Florida, said of the expansion. “The completion of USF’s mixed-use lab and office project comes at a perfect time as Tampa continues to see significant business and population growth. The Research Park is an important driver to stimulate long-term innovation and economic growth in the region.”

In a subsequent statement to �鶹������, Brown added that the demand for space for life sciences experimentation and study is at an all-time high across the academic sector.

“Building on an active campus site comes with its own set of challenges which requires lots of communication amongst key partners,” Brown said of the difficulties of completing the project in a timely manner.�� “Not to mention the current supply chain shortages, so it was crucial to deliver this project on time given current market needs, and with the University’s schedule. Additionally, to remain competitive as technology evolves, the project was also built with flexibility and sustainability in mind.”

In addition to the Research Park, Skanska’s previous work at USF entails the Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute in downtown Tampa, completed in early 2020.�� The company continues to work in the education sector throughout the Sunshine State, including the University of Miami’s Frost Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Science.�� The firm has been in business for nearly 140 years and is one of the world’s largest development and construction companies.

Their U.S. headquarters are in New York, with 30 offices across America.�� The firm employs over 7,300 people, and saw 2021 revenue of $6.4 billion.

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TAMPA, Fla.—Skanska, a global construction and development firm, has announced it will construct a new mixed-use lab and office project for the University of South Florida’s (USF) Research Park. Skanska’s $27 million contract includes the design and construction of the laboratory and office building that will be located on USF’s campus in Tampa. The total cost of the project is $42 million.

The three-story life sciences building will house 120,000 square feet of office and lab space within USF’s Research Park, complete with ground-floor retail and dining options. Designed by architecture firm Gensler, the expansion of the research park will strengthen the university’s life sciences and technology ecosystem. Upon the project’s completion estimated for fall 2021, the capacity of the research park will be expanded by more than 30 percent.

“With this investment into biotechnology and life sciences research, USF will further stimulate our regional economy in the Tampa Bay region,” said Michael C. Brown, executive vice president and general manager of Skanska’s Florida building operations. “We look forward to delivering a project that will help the university to promote innovation, entrepreneurism and the discovery of new technologies that will have a positive impact on our community.”

Skanska is currently nearing completion of USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute, which is bringing the university’s medical education programs to the heart of downtown Tampa. Additionally, Skanska built two buildings totaling more than 230,000 square feet of laboratory and office space that opened at the original research park in 2005.

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BOCA RATON, Fla. ­— Lynn University’s loft-style campus apartments recently achieved LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Lynn University’s Mary and Harold Perper Residence Hall recently received LEED Silver certification for its accomplishments in energy consumption, water efficiency, and other green initiatives. Lynn University’s student body included 2,232 undergrads, 791 graduate and 70 doctoral students as of fall 2018. The 60,000-square-foot development is part of Lynn University’s campus masterplan.

Designed by Gensler, the residence hall opened in August 2017 and includes loft-style apartments for 170 upperclassmen students, as well as a courtyard, two patios, a fire pit and grills. A community space has a TV lounge, collaboration room and full kitchen where students can relax, study and socialize together.

USGBC awards certifications based on points applicants earn across several categories. Perper Residence Hall earned LEED Silver for:

• Water efficiency: The campus taps into an IRIS Loop, a non-potable water source, which allows it to use reclaimed (recycled) water for the irrigation system. Additionally, water-efficient faucets, toilets and showerheads utilize 40.34 percent less water than similar buildings.
• Sustainable site: Forty-four percent of the site is dedicated to vegetated open space, an exemplary accomplishment, according to LEED rating systems. It is also made up of drought-tolerant native plants, including sabal palms, a thatch palm and a live oak tree in the courtyard.
• Energy and atmosphere: The building uses 33.77 percent less energy than a code-compliant baseline.
• Indoor environmental quality: Low-emitting paints, adhesives and flooring products provide enhanced indoor air quality. All installed carpet is certified by the CRI Green Label Plus program. Additionally, over 90 percent of indoor spaces have a nature view.
• Materials and resources: Over 20 percent of project materials are composed of recycled content, and over 75 percent of construction waste was recycled. In addition, more than 50 percent of the structure’s wood was harvested from a responsibly managed forest.

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