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
Coronavirus | May 26, 2020
9 tips for mastering virtual public meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic
Mike Aziz, AIA, presents 9 tips for mastering virtual public meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Architects | May 26, 2020
AIA honors exceptional designs with its COTE Top Ten Awards
Projects integrate high design with advanced performance in ten key areas.
Coronavirus | May 22, 2020
COVID-19: Healthcare designers look to the future of medical facilities in light of coronavirus pandemic
The American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) has released the key findings of a survey of its members revealing their insights on the future of healthcare architecture and the role of design in the context of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis.
Coronavirus | May 18, 2020
Infection control in office buildings: Preparing for re-occupancy amid the coronavirus
Making workplaces safer will require behavioral resolve nudged by design.
Data Centers | May 8, 2020
Data centers as a service: The next big opportunity for design teams
As data centers compete to process more data with lower latency, the AEC industry is ideally positioned to develop design standards that ensure long-term flexibility.
Coronavirus | Apr 30, 2020
Gilbane shares supply-chain status of products affected by coronavirus
Imported products seem more susceptible to delays
Architects | Apr 23, 2020
Take a virtual tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House
Explore the building with Frank Lloyd Wright Trust curator David Bagnall.
Coronavirus | Apr 21, 2020
COVID-19 update: CallisonRTKL, Patriot, PODS, and USACE collaborate on repurposed containers for ACFs
CallisonRTKL and PODS collaborate on repurposed containers for ACFs
Multifamily Housing | Apr 15, 2020
Related Group picks Stantec to design and engineer Manor Miramar residences in Florida
Related Group picks Stantec to design and engineer Manor Miramar residences in Florida.
Coronavirus | Apr 4, 2020
COVID-19: Architecture firms churn out protective face shields using their 3D printers
Architecture firms from coast to coast have suddenly turned into manufacturing centers for the production of protective face shields and face masks for use by healthcare workers fighting the COVID-10 pandemic.