The University of New Mexico’s Science & Mathematics Learning Center in Albuquerque was dedicated on March 4, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and building tour. University Regent Carolyn Abeita and President David Schmidly were joined by political and community leaders and senior administrators for the event.

“I’m very excited to see the vision of the Center come to life,” said Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Brenda Claiborne. “Not only does the center provide fully equipped teaching labs and classrooms aimed at engaging freshmen and sophomores in science and mathematics, but it ...[more]

McClay Library at Queen’sUniversity Belfast received a Commendation in the UK’s 2011 Civic Trust Awards held in Manchester, England, on March 4.

Established in 1959, the Civic Trust Awards recognize the best in architecture, design, planning, landscape and public art. Awards are given to projects of the highest quality design that are judged to have made a positive cultural, social, or economic contribution to the local community.

McClay Library was the only project from Northern Ireland to be so recognized. This is the second major UK award for the ...[more]

The Boole Postgraduate Research Library at University College Cork in Ireland has received a “High Commendation” from the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) in the Society’s 2010 Library Design Awards, announced earlier this month.

The citation reads, in part, “This… extraordinary environment work[s] well for its audience. The building is linked to its environment and to the rest of the campus through the clever use of materials. The atrium has a wonderful sense of light, making an impressive entrance to the building. There is a strong ...[more]

The McClay Library at Queen’s University Belfast, in Northern Ireland, has received the 2010 Sustainability Award from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), it was announced today.

The Library, which won the 2010 RICS Northern Ireland award earlier this year, was chosen over category winners from the other RICS geographic regions across the UK for this prestigious national award.

As one of the judges noted in the announcement, “The new Library is proving an invaluable resource for students at Queen’s University, Belfast. The building achieves excellence on two fronts: in terms of providing essential educational support and through ...[more]

The Lovett School’s Portman Middle School in Atlanta has received LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council in recognition of the school’s highly sustainable design and construction.

The project’s highly sustainable attributes include a green roof, which features an outdoor classroom and demonstration garden for water harvesting; a water collection and recycling program; the use of rapidly renewable materials; the recycling of construction waste; and a “Building Dashboard.” In addition to its LEED Gold certification, the project has earned an Energy Star rating from the US Environmental Protection Agency and ...[more]

One of Northern Ireland’s newest landmark buildings – the McClay Library at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland – was officially opened today by one of the University’s most famous alumni, Nobel prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney.

Speaking at the event, Dr Heaney lauded the new library, saying, calling it “a lightship for scholarship…” He went on to comment on how the library represents the role of technology in transforming how students learn.

Illuminated by a multi-story open atrium, the 196,000 square foot building accommodates 2,000 reader places and 1.2 million volumes. ...[more]

ATLANTA, GA – The Portman Family Middle School was dedicated at The Lovett School today in a ceremony that drew attention to the school’s commitment to environmental stewardship. From the building’s design and operations to its students’ curriculum, sustainability is integrated throughout the 75,000 s.f. school, which opened for classes in September.

The facility provides sixth through eighth grade students with a technology-rich learning environment, including science labs, a computer lab, art and drama studios, collaborative study rooms, and a 500-seat multi-purpose room.

The school’s garden roof is an interactive learning space, with native plantings ...[more]

PHOENIX, AZ – The renovation and addition of O’Donnell Hall, home to New Mexico State University’s School of Education, was named “Best of 2009 New Mexico” by Southwest Contractor magazine. The annual competition, now in its 12th year, recognizes design and construction excellence in New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada.

Project teams will be honored at an awards ceremony in Albuquerque December 8. O’Donnell Hall will also be among the winning projects profiled in the December 2008 issue of the magazine.

At O’Donnell Hall’s September 2008 dedication, Michael Morehead, the College’s interim dean, called it “a magnificent building and… a place where future educators can learn and thrive in a tremendous facility”. He ...[more]