Global construction and development firm Skanska announces the topping out of the Integrative Sciences Building at North Carolina State University (NC State), marking a significant milestone in the construction of the molecular sciences research and teaching facility. This achievement comes as part of Skanska’s commitment to excellence in delivering essential education projects.
As the physical core of NC State’s Integrative Sciences Initiative (ISI) program – aimed at transforming teaching, research and discovery in chemistry and other STEM fields at NC State – the165,947-square-foot building will showcase and celebrate the sciences. The facility, for which construction began last May, will feature cutting-edge classrooms, teaching labs, core research facilities, collaboration and study spaces, as well as office areas and a café. The building design and layout allows for flexibility to support interdisciplinary sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry and biotechnology research.
“Designed to transform the Brickyard into a vibrant hub of innovation and education, the new Integrative Sciences Building will serve as a vital space for STEM teaching and research space at NC State,” said Mark Balling, executive vice president responsible for Skanska’s North Carolina and Virginia building operations. “The topping out of the project furthers our commitment to delivering facilities where future researchers can work, discover and even manufacture life-changing medicines to promote health and longevity.”
A topping out ceremony marks the culmination of the structural phase of a construction project, typically with the placement of a final beam or brick at the highest point of a building. The current and future construction of the Integrative Sciences Building is highlighted by:
- Over 134,000 cubic feet of concrete
- Over 1,000 tons of structural steel used for the skeleton frame
- 128 fume hoods to enable transformative research
- Air handler unit capacity of more than 190,000 cubic feet per minute
To commemorate this occasion, Skanska construction and its partners were joined by NC State representatives to sign the final beam as a symbol of the progress made since the project broke ground. Construction is on track for substantial completion in Fall 2026.
At NC State, Skanska previously constructed: Fitts-Woolard Hall, the Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center; the James B. Hunt Jr. Library, and Engineering Building III.
Operating from a regional headquarters in Durham, North Carolina, Skanska USA has completed more than $2.9 billion in work in Virginia and North Carolina over the past ten years. Currently, Skanska has over $640 million of projects in progress between the two states.
This and previous releases can be found at www.skanska.com.
About Skanska
Skanska uses knowledge & foresight to shape the way people live, work, and connect. More than 135 years in the making, we’re one of the world’s largest development and construction companies. We operate in select markets throughout the Nordics, Europe and the United States. Skanska in the U.S. is headquartered in New York City with 28 offices around the country. In 2023, construction in the U.S. generated $7.1 billion in revenue, and as a developer in the U.S., Skanska has invested a total value of $4.6 billion in commercial and multi-family projects. Together with our customers and the collective expertise of our 6,500 teammates in the U.S. and 27,000 globally, we create innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime.
