Sundt Construction has been awarded a contract to build a new interdisciplinary research center for the College of Engineering at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Sundt recently won the 2013 RED Award as General Contractor of the Year for two educational projects: the Health Sciences Education Building in Downtown Phoenix and  ISTB 4 at Arizona State University in Tempe.

The state-of-the-art Engineering Innovation Building will be designed by SmithGroupJJR to house high-tech research laboratories focused on these key areas:

>> Advanced manufacturing;

>> Energy storage;

>> Bioengineering;

>> Materials processing;

>> Metals recovery and recycling;

>> Computer modeling and simulation.

The building will also include the Dean’s executive office, a student center for engineering clubs and senior design projects, and space for research collaboration with biosciences and UA’s business college and industry partners.

Construction for the Engineering Innovation Building will begin in early spring 2014. Upon completion, the education building will provide a foundation for the College of Engineering’s expanding research programs, with emphasis in the School of Sustainable Engineered Systems and Biomedical Engineering.

“Laboratory construction projects continue to be an area Sundt thrives in, especially knowing the importance of the work that will be performed within these new buildings. We are impressed with the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering’s missions for this building, which include having a role in creating affordable sustainability solutions, advancing new interdisciplinary research initiatives to meet the nation’s future competitive and market-based needs and other significant societal contributions,” said Sundt Laboratory Group Leader Ryan Abbott.

Sundt serves as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) and SmithGroupJJR will provide all architectural, engineering, interior design and site design for the project.

Currently Sundt is working on renovating the Old Main building on the UA campus.