After an era of biology-oriented spending—largely driven by Big Pharma and government concerns about bioterrorism—climate change is reshaping priorities in science and technology construction. “Engineering and chemistry funding are going up now, as is energy research, which seems to continue to get federal funding,” says Andy Vazzano, FAIA, LEED AP, Science and Technology Practice Leader at SmithGroupJJR. “Meanwhile, the sequester and budget cuts are having a negative impact on NIH funding for biomedical research.”
The focus on human health hasn’t totally faded, with many research universities still building new labs—especially those that tie research to clinical practice. “Anything that begins with ‘trans’ or ‘inter’ is still a major trend,” says Ryan Abbott, Science and Technology Project Director at Sundt Construction and a BD+C “40 Under 40” honoree (Class of 2012). “Translational, interdisciplinary. Modern science is a team sport.”
TOP S&T SECTOR ARCHITECTURE FIRMS
2012 S+T Revenue ($)1 HDR Architecture $91,252,0002 Perkins+Will $48,373,5683 HOK $38,347,0004 Stantec $33,111,4695 SmithGroupJJR $26,400,0006 Flad Architects $21,480,0007 Payette $18,434,0298 ZGF Architects $16,214,2679 EwingCole $11,000,00010 FKP Architects $10,250,000
TOP S&T SECTOR ENGINEERING FIRMS
2012 S+T Revenue ($)1 Affiliated Engineers $19,824,0002 Middough $13,900,0003 URS Corp. $11,772,1244 Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers $10,500,0005 RMF Engineering Design $9,200,0006 Vanderweil Engineers $7,851,9007 Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor $7,500,0008 WSP USA $5,772,0959 Science Applications International Corp. $3,103,15210 STV $2,937,000
TOP S&T SECTOR CONSTRUCTION FIRMS
2012 S+T Revenue ($)1 Skanska USA $376,717,4742 DPR Construction $298,563,6423 Suffolk Construction $290,560,3074 Manhattan Construction $199,444,0005 Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., The $193,160,4256 JE Dunn Construction $184,799,0517 Clark Group $174,348,8048 Turner Corporation, The $157,490,0009 Structure Tone $143,798,00010 Consigli Construction $74,568,263
Though the purpose-built med school building is the iconic face of S+T, adaptive reuse is getting a second look for advantages in cost and speed. Many clients are also seeking higher levels of green; LEED Platinum, once thought impossible for labs, is no longer unique, and clients are increasingly eyeing net-zero.
In addition, look for public/private partnerships to assume a greater role, even in the rarefied atmosphere of the Ivy League. Harvard, for instance, has rethought its Allston science campus during a recession hiatus. When the site cranks up again next year, the program will include a 36-acre, privately developed “enterprise research campus” for related companies in pharma, biotech, and venture capital.
Read BD+C's full Giants 300 Report
Related Stories
Sustainable Development | May 10, 2024
Nature as the city: Why it’s time for a new framework to guide development
NBBJ leaders Jonathan Ward and Margaret Montgomery explore five inspirational ideas they are actively integrating into projects to ensure more healthy, natural cities.
Mass Timber | May 8, 2024
Portland's Timberview VIII mass timber multifamily development will offer more than 100 affordable units
An eight-story, 72,000-sf mass timber apartment building in Portland, Ore., topped out this winter and will soon offer over 100 affordable units. The structure is the tallest affordable housing mass timber building and the first Type IV-C affordable housing building in the city.
Architects | May 8, 2024
Ivan O’Garro, AIA joins LEO A DALY as a vice president
Integrated design firm LEO A DALY welcomes Ivan O’Garro, AIA, as a vice president and managing principal of its Atlanta studio.
K-12 Schools | May 7, 2024
World's first K-12 school to achieve both LEED for Schools Platinum and WELL Platinum
A new K-12 school in Washington, D.C., is the first school in the world to achieve both LEED for Schools Platinum and WELL Platinum, according to its architect, Perkins Eastman. The John Lewis Elementary School is also the first school in the District of Columbia designed to achieve net-zero energy (NZE).
Healthcare Facilities | May 6, 2024
Hospital construction costs for 2024
Data from Gordian breaks down the average cost per square foot for a three-story hospital across 10 U.S. cities.
Biophilic Design | May 6, 2024
The benefits of biophilic design in the built environment
Biophilic design in the built environment supports the health and wellbeing of individuals, as they spend most of their time indoors.
MFPRO+ Special Reports | May 6, 2024
Top 10 trends in affordable housing
Among affordable housing developers today, there’s one commonality tying projects together: uncertainty. AEC firms share their latest insights and philosophies on the future of affordable housing in BD+C's 2023 Multifamily Annual Report.
Retail Centers | May 3, 2024
Outside Las Vegas, two unused office buildings will be turned into an open-air retail development
In Henderson, Nev., a city roughly 15 miles southeast of Las Vegas, 100,000 sf of unused office space will be turned into an open-air retail development called The Cliff. The $30 million adaptive reuse development will convert the site’s two office buildings into a destination for retail stores, chef-driven restaurants, and community entertainment.
Codes and Standards | May 3, 2024
New York City considering bill to prevent building collapses
The New York City Council is considering a proposed law with the goal of preventing building collapses. The Billingsley Structural Integrity Act is a response to the collapse of 1915 Billingsley Terrace in the Bronx last December.
Architects | May 2, 2024
Emerging considerations in inclusive design
Design elements that consider a diverse population of users make lives better. When it comes to wayfinding, some factors will remain consistent—including accessibility and legibility.