Bjarke Ingels Group designs a mass timber cube structure for the University of Kansas

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and executive architect BNIM have unveiled their design for a new mass timber cube structure called the Makers’ KUbe for the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design. A six-story, 50,000-sf building for learning and collaboration, the light-filled KUbe will house studio and teaching space, 3D-printing and robotic labs, and a ground-level cafe, all organized around a central core.

Student Housing

Student housing partnership gives residents free mental health support

Text-based mental health support app Counslr has partnered with Aptitude Development to provide free mental health support to residents of student housing locations.

Student Housing

Construction begins on Auburn University’s new first-year residence hall

The new first-year residence hall along Auburn University's Haley Concourse.

University Buildings

Columbia University to begin construction on New York City’s first all-electric academic research building

Columbia University will soon begin construction on New York City’s first all-electric academic research building. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), the 80,700-sf building for the university’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons will provide eight floors of biomedical research and lab facilities as well as symposium and community engagement spaces.

Green | Jan 26, 2015

Shopping centers set their sight on solar

As part of its pledge to environmentally sound practices, real estate investment trust Macerich is implementing solar across its portfolio of 85-plus properties in 19 states.

Plans of where the parks would be located if University of Chicago's bid were ch

Jan 7, 2015

University of Chicago releases proposed sites for Obama library bid

There are two proposed sites for the plan, both owned by the Chicago Park District in Chicago’s South Side, near the university’s campus in Hyde Park, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Jan 6, 2015

Snøhetta unveils design proposal of the Barack Obama Presidential Center Library for the University of Hawaii

The plan by Snøhetta and WCIT Architecture features a building that appears square from the outside, but opens at one corner into a rounded courtyard with a pool, Dezeen reports.

Jan 2, 2015

Construction put in place enjoyed healthy gains in 2014

Construction consultant FMI foresees—with some caveats—continuing growth in the office, lodging, and manufacturing sectors. But funding uncertainties raise red flags in education and healthcare.

Section rendering courtesy SRG Partnership

Dec 29, 2014

Spherical reflectors help spread daylight throughout a college library in Portland, Ore. [BD+C's 2014 Great Solutions Report]

The 40,000-sf library is equipped with four “cones of light,” spherical reflectors made from extruded aluminum that distribute daylight from the library’s third floor to illuminate the second. The innovation was named a 2014 Great Solution by the editors of Building Design+Construction.

Sasaki Associates used detailed network visualizations like this traffic flow pa

BIM and Information Technology | Dec 28, 2014

The Big Data revolution: How data-driven design is transforming project planning

There are literally hundreds of applications for deep analytics in planning and design projects, not to mention the many benefits for construction teams, building owners, and facility managers. We profile some early successful applications.

At Coastline Community Colleges Newport Beach (Calif.) Campus, the Building Tea

Dec 28, 2014

AIA course: Enhancing interior comfort while improving overall building efficacy

Providing more comfortable conditions to building occupants has become a top priority in today’s interior designs. This course is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.

Students chill in a lounge at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. The $

Dec 28, 2014

6 trends steering today's college residence halls

University students want more in a residence hall than just a place to sleep. They want a space that reflects their style of living and learning.

Dec 10, 2014

New study says prefab elements saved Colorado hospital $4.3 million in construction

A study by engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder found that prefab approaches on the new Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver cut 72 workdays off the schedule and resulted in millions in savings.

Dec 9, 2014

UC Merced campus earns fourth LEED Platinum certification

The award brings the campus total for LEED certifications through the U.S. Green Building Council to 13, with its newest building under construction, the second Classroom and Office Building, expected to also achieve platinum status.