News & Insights

Project Spotlight

Catawba College, Lincoln University, University of Delaware reach major milestones with transformative capital projects

Three schools in the eastern United States have reached major milestones this spring in ambitious capital initiatives. From cutting-edge science buildings to sustainable infrastructure and new student housing, the projects reflect a growing emphasis on student-centered, mission-aligned development.

At Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C., construction is underway on a $90 million campus transformation—the largest capital effort in the college’s history. The initiative centers on a new geothermal heating and cooling system expected to reduce carbon emissions by 23,000 metric tons over 25 years. The project also includes a new 130-bed residence hall, renovations to two historic dormitories, a reimagined student hub known as The Smokestack, and upgrades to the college’s event and athletic facilities.

“We’ve had an ongoing conversation about what advanced sustainability looks like at a higher-ed campus,” said Dave Karlsgodt, who leads B&D’s Infrastructure, Energy and Sustainability practice at Brailsford & Dunlavey. “It’s not just about a great building or garden. It’s about doing the right thing—and showing the world how to do it, too.”

Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University, has broken ground on a new 322-bed, apartment-style residence hall. The four-story, 94,000-square-foot facility is among the largest construction projects currently underway on campus. B&D is advising on the development, which supports the university’s broader effort to offer modern, independent living options that enhance the student experience.

At the University of Delaware in Newark, Del., officials recently cut the ribbon on Building X, a four-story interdisciplinary research facility. Designed to unite faculty and students from biology, neuroscience, psychology, and physics, the new building supports cross-disciplinary research on brain function, behavior, and human disease. Developed with support from B&D, the facility includes more than 35 teaching and research labs, 60 offices and graduate student workspaces, and a variety of collaborative learning environments.

Serving as program or project manager to all three institutions, B&D continues to support colleges and universities in aligning capital investments with long-term strategic goals—advancing campus life while reinforcing institutional priorities.