By Lindsey Coulter听

糖心少女听(SCN)听was excited to welcome听Tieg Murray听to听the听2026听Editorial Advisory Board.听As听Vice President of Market Strategy and Creative Services for Skanska USA Building,听Murray听leads strategic planning to strengthen market differentiation across core sectors, including education. Over the last 19 years at Skanska, Murray has advanced from Marketing Coordinator to senior leadership roles, driving growth strategies for higher education, K-12,听science听and technology.听听

In her time at Skanska,听Murray has seen a lot of evolution across the听education and research world听鈥� and听believes that higher听education听is听in a moment of real transformation.听

鈥淪tudents鈥� needs are shifting,听and breakthroughs in science, medicine and technology are happening faster than ever,鈥� Murray said.听鈥淏eing part of a team that helps campuses adapt to those changes has made the work deeply meaningful for me.听We鈥檙e听not just constructing buildings.听We鈥檙e听shaping environments that will support the next generation of students,听researchers听and innovators.鈥�听

SCN spoke with Murry about the evolution of science and research facilities, future听trends听and big projects on the horizon.听

SCN:听What first drew you to the education听sector, and听what鈥檚听kept you听invested听over time?听听

Murray:听I鈥檓听drawn to university projects and their ability to shape听the听student听experience and influence the future.听That interest has grown into a real passion for university science facilities听鈥斕齮heir complexity, precision听and the incredible innovation that听happens within those spaces听鈥斕齧ake them my favorite project听type that听Skanska听delivers.听Higher听ed campuses have听a听unique听energy.听They鈥檙e听places where ideas take听shape听and communities thrive. Knowing Skanska is trusted to build spaces that will directly support the next generation of researchers, educators and students is what keeps me invested and inspired in the work every day.听

SCN:听Science and research environments have evolved rapidly in recent years.听What鈥檚听been the most significant shift since you began working in this space?听听

One of the biggest shifts听is听the evolution of听science and research environments.听Labs were听traditionally built around a single听discipline听with very defined boundaries. Today听… science buildings are intentionally interdisciplinary, more technologically driven and built with flexibility at their core.听They鈥檙e听designed to support rapid change, encourage听collaboration听and adapt to research needs we听can鈥檛听even predict.听Watching听this听evolution听makes听the work more exciting听and more challenging.听It鈥檚听reinforced just how critical thoughtful planning and true industry听expertise听have become.听

SCN:听Looking ahead, how do you see education environments听鈥斕齪articularly science and STEM spaces听鈥斕齨eeding to adapt?听听

Over the next five to听10听years, science and STEM environments will need to become even more flexible and听forward-looking. Research is evolving too quickly for buildings to be tied to a single purpose, which makes adaptability essential.听We鈥檙e听seeing a strong shift toward spaces that can be reconfigured with ease, support emerging听technologies听and encourage collaboration across disciplines. Open labs, shared听equipment听and听purpose-built听collaboration areas are no longer听鈥渘ice to have鈥澨齠eatures.听They鈥檙e听becoming fundamental to how innovation and learning take place on campuses.听

At the same time, institutions are facing increasing pressure to听operate听more efficiently and more responsibly. Sustainability,听resilience,听and performance are now central considerations in planning and delivering new facilities. Universities are working hard to reduce energy use and manage听long-term听operating costs, all听while supporting听highly complex听research programs.听Skanska is helping campuses meet these demands by delivering high-performing, resilient facilities听that support听cutting-edge听research听while lowering energy consumption and lifecycle听costs.听

SCN:听What projects are you听excited to see come to fruition?听听

On the East Coast,听I鈥檓听proud of听what鈥檚听ahead听for听Simmons University with the new Living Learning Center听in Boston听and at the University of Virginia with the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology听in听Charlottesville. These are the kinds of facilities that will open doors for students听and create听richer learning experiences,听while听giving researchers the spaces they need to push discovery forward.听听

On the West Coast,听in Seattle,听the University of Washington鈥檚 Magnuson Health Sciences T-Wing Renovation is听a great example听of听how听we鈥檙e听helping institutions breathe new life into older facilities so they can keep pace with rapidly evolving scientific needs. Seeing an aging building transformed into a place that supports modern research is听exciting and听rewarding.听

In the听K-12 world, projects like the Beaverton High School Modernization听in Oregon, Rye Ranch Elementary听in Florida,听and the new Arlington High School听in听Massachusetts,听remind me why this work matters so much. These schools will shape the daily experience of younger students,听giving them safe, inspiring,听future听ready spaces where they can learn and grow.听

Ultimately, across听all these regions and project types, what excites me most is how each facility will directly support student success, research advancement, and community impact, and how Skanska continues to be a trusted partner in shaping the future of education.听听

Watch for more insights from Murray and other Editorial Advisory Board members听throughout the year.听

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By Daniel Abou-Jaoude

Florida鈥檚 school districts are facing unprecedented demand for new school facilities, expansions and renovations. Fueled by steady population growth and shifting demographics, school boards across the state are expanding their educational infrastructure to serve both current students and those expected to enroll in the coming years. Last year, Florida鈥檚 K-12 schools had more than 3.2 million students enrolled, with significant increases seen in suburban, urban and rural areas alike. That number is only expected to grow, with recent reports projecting that Florida鈥檚 population could increase by 1.4 million people by 2030, further intensifying the need for new and improved school facilities. 听

In some areas, schools are situated in neighborhoods where no land is available for new campuses, forcing districts to prioritize renovations or complete rebuilds. As demand shows no signs of slowing, close collaboration between school districts and experienced construction partners will be essential to delivering the next generation of learning environments across the state.听听

Balancing New Construction with Major Renovations听听

When aging schools reach the limits of what renovations can achieve, full demolitions and rebuilds often become necessary to provide the kinds of facilities that meet today鈥檚 educational standards. Skanska, which has completed more than 160 K-12 projects across Florida over the past 20 years, has seen firsthand how districts must balance preservation with modernization as they plan for long-term growth.听听

For example, Newsome High School in Hillsborough County underwent a major transformation through a phased approach that included constructing a new auditorium adjacent to the existing school, followed by a full conversion of the original auditorium into modern classrooms. These types of projects require extensive coordination with school administrators and faculty to minimize disruptions to daily operations.听听

Prioritizing Safety on Active Campuses听听

Working on active school campuses presents unique challenges that demand careful planning and constant communication. At Buffalo Creek Middle School in Manatee County, Skanska constructed a new two-story media center, converted the former media center into new classrooms and renovated existing facilities while students attended classes nearby. Safety is always the top priority. It is paramount to adhere to safety and security guidelines such as dedicated entry and exit points, and clearly marked separation zones between active construction areas and educational spaces. 听

This ensures students and teachers can continue learning without interruption. At Collins PK-8 in Hillsborough County, construction across six buildings on an active school campus created a complex web of challenges including dewatering an existing pond with 24/7 pumps that exceeded the allowed decibel levels for noise. Through close coordination with school leaders and surrounding neighbors, the firm constructed temporary sound walls to contain the noise and help minimize the impact. Building Strong Partnerships with School Districts Open lines of communication help identify potential challenges before they disrupt project schedules or school operations. Skanska emphasizes the importance of engaging with administrators and curriculum department heads early, hosting site tours for staff and students, and keeping all impacted stakeholders informed. In certain schools, the company issues a community newsletter to keep parents, staff, and neighbors informed about project milestones, potential impacts, and progress throughout the construction timeline. 听

鈥淎s the seventh largest school district in the nation, these projects are investments in the future of education across our growing school district,鈥� said Chris Farkas, Deputy Superintendent for Hillsborough County Public Schools. 鈥淢aintaining close collaboration with construction partners throughout these complex projects ensures we can deliver future-ready learning environments that reflect the evolving needs of our students and communities.鈥� 听

Learn more about how projects like NeoCity Academy in Ocsceola County prepare students for future academic and professional environments, in the July/August issue of 糖心少女.听

Daniel Abou-Jaoude is Vice President for Skanska USA Building.听

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Constructed in 2010, the building was designed to achieve 44 percent more energy and 30 percent more water than code requirements. High-efficiency condensing boilers are used for heating the building, while a comprehensive set of solar panels, both photovoltaic as well as solar thermal sit atop the building’s roof, according to the college.

“Environmental sustainability was integrated into all aspects of the design and construction of Beck Academic Hall and that was very intentional,” said Gustavus Adolphus College President Jack Ohle in a statement. “Gustavus strives to be a leader among colleges and universities when it comes to sustainability practices and taking care of the Earth, so achieving LEED Platinum certification for Beck Hall was a priority.”

Sustainable features of the building include stormwater management, bicycle storage, reduced light pollution, water-efficient landscaping, use of recycled content in building materials, use of low VOC-emitting construction materials, greater use of occupant-controllable lighting and thermal comfort systems, and designated parking spaces for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles. During construction, 75 percent of waste was recycled.

“Beck Hall’s LEED Platinum certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the USGBC, in a statement. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Beck Hall serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”

Beck Hall was designed by BWBR Architects and constructed by Kraus-Anderson Construction Company. Both firms are headquartered in St. Paul, Minn.

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