Articles

Virginia Tech Tabs Skanska for New Science Lab Construction

By Eric Althoff

BLACKSBURG, Va.鈥擟onstruction management firm Skanska, which is based in Sweden but has offices in the United States, has been tapped by Virginia Tech to build the school鈥檚 Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building.

The $70 million project鈥攄esigned by ZGF鈥攚ill entail over 100,000 square feet of laboratory and classroom space.聽 The four-story Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building will warehouse educational space for the College of Science, College of Engineering, College of Natural Resources and Environment, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.聽 The building鈥檚 laboratory spaces are designed to be flexible for multiple uses, and the facility will also feature study areas, student spaces as well as offices for faculty and teaching assistants.

In a recent announcement by Skanska, Greg Peele, executive vice president responsible for the firm鈥檚 North Carolina and Virginia building operations, said that the building will improve the scientific inquiry and instruction taking place at Virginia Tech.

鈥淭his building supports the university鈥檚 strategic goal to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing landscape of higher education,鈥 he said.

Added Dwyn Taylor, assistant vice president for capital construction at Virginia Tech: 鈥淭he construction of the Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building is an exciting new phase in the realization of Virginia Tech鈥檚 vision for the north academic district, as highlighted in our university master plan.聽 The Division of Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities looks forward to collaborating with Skanska to bring this project to life.鈥

The work is due to be finished in the spring of 2024.