Case Studies College and University

Most people who work in college athletics for nearly two decades start to look a little worn. The early mornings, the road trips, the endless recruiting calls — it adds up. Ron Pavan is not most people. “Everyone wonders why I smile,” he says, settling into a conversation with the ease of someone who genuinely […]

Seeing Duke University’s two coal-fired power plants is one of Russell Thompson’s indelible memories from touring the campus before he was hired as director of utilities and engineering in 2007. Then, one of the first initiatives he led was replacing coal-powered plant boilers with ones powered by natural gas—the last chunk of coal was burned […]

As a slew of general contractors will attest, there’s a definite shortage of young people entering the trades, but those who do are well-positioned for career growth. At least in some locales, the message seems well taken, including at Patrick & Henry Community College where there’s been a waiting list of students seeking training in […]

For Ronald Reed, switching from a career in baking to one in construction was easier than he thought. If you’re used to reading a recipe, you can easily understand construction guidelines, he explains—just replace one-third of a cup for one-third of a building. After 13 years of running The Dessert Company, a bakery and lunch […]

Recognition within the highest circles of science is bringing the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, to the forefront of scientific research on a world stage. University professor Donna Strickland earned a Nobel Prize in Physics along with colleague Gérard Mourou of France in 2018. Based on their research and exploration of chirped pulse amplification, […]

For many colleges and universities, summer is when the hustle and bustle of student life give way to an almost eerie calm, where the loudest sound may be the wind in the trees. That is, until you take a walk across the Grand Valley State University campus in Allendale, Michigan. There you’ll see the dozens […]

As a kid, when Ron Siliko thought about his dream job, he envisioned having his own set of keys to open a gymnasium, with a plan to shoot hoops anytime he wanted. In reality, he got his wish—and a whole lot more. Basketball courts, swimming pools, equestrian facilities and baseball diamonds are just a few […]

There’s got to be some more “there-there.” Richard A. Yeager laments the phrase, but concedes its wisdom. Especially in his role of the past year as director for campus planning at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. While he’s quick to acknowledge the more than $1.5 billion of capital improvements and new buildings over the past 15 […]