Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month.
UConn Stadium Makeover
Among other things, March is known for the beginning of spring, Women’s History Month, and of course, college basketball. As both its men’s and women’s teams fought their way to the March Madness Final Four, the University of Connecticut (UConn) announced the start of major renovations on its Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. The stadium, which is home of the legendary Huskies and has been dubbed the “Basketball Capital of the World,” is getting a nearly $100 million makeover to enhance the fan and player experience. Facility upgrades include a full roof replacement, grab-and-go food locations to ease congestion, and a host of improved gameday spaces such as press and locker rooms.
Organization: UConn
Location: Storrs, Conn.
Type of project: Renovation
Size: +10,000-seat capacity
Estimated cost: $99.4 million
Design-build team: DPR Construction, S/L/A/M, Legends Global, and Jack Porter
Status: Started March 24
Expected completion: Phase 1 by November 2026; Phase 2 TBA
Interesting tidbit: Although the Gampel Pavilion’s domed roof has long been one of the stadium’s most iconic and unique features, it has also proven to be the most challenging. As a UConn facilities leader explained in a “Joe on the Go” episode, the roof is difficult to access and has trouble holding up against New England winters; in fact, a roof leak delayed the start of a Huskies game in early 2025. UConn now plans to replace the dome’s exterior and ceiling to improve resilience and acoustics, while retaining its signature look.
Quote: Athletics Director David Benedict said, “Gampel Pavilion is one of the most electric atmospheres in all of college basketball, and our student-athletes and fans deserve a facility that matches the standard we hold ourselves to every day.”
More details are available here.
Hurricane-Resistant Hospital
Keeping hospitals up and running, even during a disaster, is paramount. When a healthcare facility shuts down, patients can die. In hurricane-prone Florida, Lee Health is building its new Fort Myers healthcare campus with safety and resilience in mind. According to construction partner Skanska, the 52-acre campus will consist of a five-story hospital with about 400,000 square feet of healthcare and office space, as well as a 122,000 square-foot medical office building housing an ambulatory surgery center. The campus will also include a central energy plant designed to ensure efficient and uninterrupted power supply.
Organization: Lee Health
Location: Fort Myers, Fla.
Type of project: New build
Size: 52-acre campus
Estimated cost: $820 million
Design-build team: Flad Architects and Skanska USA
Status: Phase 1 topped out on March 11
Expected completion: 2028
Interesting tidbit: The project incorporates resiliency and sustainability measures to maintain continuous healthcare operations in Florida’s challenging climate. Among them, an emergency makeup water well—a first of its kind for a Lee Health facility—will keep air conditioning systems functional during municipal water disruptions. Additional features include redundant power systems, dual-fuel generators, and a reinforced building envelope engineered to withstand winds up to 150 mph. The site, itself, has also been elevated beyond 100-year flood projections. Notably, the resilient hospital project resembles another campus currently under construction by Baptist Health in nearby Sunrise, Fla.
Quote: At a topping-out ceremony, Lee Health President and CEO Larry Antonucci said, “Each beam placed represents our commitment to building a stronger future for healthcare in Southwest Florida that expands access, supports our care teams, and ensures patients receive exceptional care for generations to come.”
More details are available here.
Solar-Powered School
School across America are increasingly adopting solar power in an effort to go green and cut energy costs. For example, the Bradford Exempted Village School District (EVSD) in Ohio has partnered with Ameresco on a rooftop solar project for the district’s academic school building. Backed by a state grant, the 304 kW system is expected to offset roughly 46% of the public school district’s total energy usage, improve costs per kilowatt-hour by an estimated 33%, and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 117 metric tons each year.
Organization: Bradford Exempted Village School District
Location: Bradford, Ohio
Type of project: New build
Size: 304 kW
Estimated cost: N/A
Design-build team: Ameresco
Status: Began in September 2025
Expected completion: Later this year
Interesting tidbit: The solar project represents the latest milestone in Bradford EVSD’s ongoing decarbonization efforts, highlighting the district’s commitment to modernizing its facilities and advancing environmental stewardship. Other recent initiatives include grants to purchase two electric buses and the construction of a new greenhouse to provide students with access to fresh food on campus.
Quote: Superintendent Joe Hurst said, “At Bradford EVSD, we’ve long recognized that rising utility costs can shift resources away from where they matter most: our classrooms and the students who rely on on‑site support.”
More details are available here.
Help for Healthcare Shortage
The facilities management industry isn’t the only one facing a workforce crisis. Across the country, healthcare systems continue to face critical staffing shortages affecting hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and community health organizations. To help address this healthcare shortage and train the next generation of nurses, Concordia University Wisconsin is building a new, high-tech wing for its School of Nursing. The project will include approximately 26,000 square feet of new construction and 11,650 square feet of renovated space.
Organization: Concordia University Wisconsin
Location: Mequon, Wis.
Type of project: New build/renovation
Size: ~38,000 square feet
Estimated cost: N/A
Status: Announced March 24
Expected completion: Fall 2027
Interesting tidbit: In addition to collaborative learning spaces, the new nursing wing will feature advanced hospital simulation and virtual reality suites where students practice responding to real clinical scenarios, such as stabilizing a patient in cardiac distress, navigating difficult conversation techniques and de-escalation, and assisting with the delivery of a newborn baby. Before students ever care for a real patient, they will face hundreds of realistic clinical situations inside these walls, according to the university.
Quote: Jessica Leiberg, dean of the Lutheran university’s School of Nursing, said, “We view nursing as both a profession and a calling. The new nursing wing will give students the space to practice with confidence, learn alongside dedicated faculty mentors, and grow into nurses who serve others with clinical excellence, compassion, and Christ-centered purpose.”
More details are available here.
Honorable Mentions
- Elon Musk’s Massive Chip Factory
- Skilled Trades Training Center
- Safety-Focused Army Demilitarization Plant
- Chicago Soccer Stadium
- State-Backed Mass Timber Facility
Do you have a major project announcement you’d like considered for the “Under Construction” series? Please contact Editor Joe Bebon at JBebon@BLR.com.