Creating 21st Century Science Research and Teaching Facilities
IKM architects is proud to announce their selection as presenters at TWO higher education facilities conferences.
IKM recognizes that today’s college campuses are facing challenges of rising costs, aging and deteriorating facilities, energy consumption, cost and efficiency, rapidly changing technology needs, calls for sustainability, and an ever-growing list of demands from the millennial student. It is more important than ever that a design professional, such as IKM, be engaged early as a partner in the project process to help solve the challenges faced by higher education facilities partners. IKM will be offering a presentation of their study at CMU’s Mellon Institute as case-in-point of a successful implementation of this idea.
The first conference, the Member Meeting on Collaboration, is held by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of PA (AICUP) each spring in Hershey, PA. The program for the conference features five breakout sessions on finance, technology and facilities management facilitated by AICUP members, endorsed program providers and corporate affiliates.
IKM was selected to present a program in the facilities management track entitled, “Seven Components to Transform Your Science Building.” The program will feature IKM’s laboratory design specialist, Steven A. Watson, AIA, and representatives from AICUP member university Carnegie Mellon discussing the key architectural principles to develop a 21st century science teaching and research facility within an existing campus building.
“It is important to note that many colleges and universities are looking to reuse the existing building stock on their campuses,” says Watson, “At the same time they are competing for shrinking student populations, top research and teaching faculty and ever-scarce research dollars. It is possible to address these issues through renovation design in a cost effective manner to create 21st Century facilities that can attract talent and funding.”
This same program was also selected by the Eastern Regional Conference of APPA (ERAPPA), representing the education facilities professionals. This conference held in September 2014 in Atlantic City, NJ, is smartly titled “An Ocean of Opportunities.” IKM’s program on reusing existing building stock will fall in the “Surf and Turf” category topic. IKM is one of only 35 presentations selected for the conference. Hosted this year by the New Jersey Chapter of APPA, this regional conference attracts attendees from the 350 institutional members in the Northeast from Canada to Maryland.
Speaking for IKM are Michael McDonnell, AIA, principal architect for IKM, leader of the higher education market portfolio for the firm and Steven A. Watson, AIA, project manager and laboratory design specialist and manager of the Carnegie Mellon University Mellon Institute study.
IKM Incorporated has been providing architecture, planning and interior design services to institutional clients for over 100-years. Our mission is to create innovative and informed architecture that positively impacts the world through leadership in understanding, exploration and decision making. The firm’s vision is to be recognized for excellence in institutional and corporate architecture, design and advancing their client’s mission.