The Center for Academic and Spiritual Life, which Structure Tone of New York broke ground on this year, and Wilf Hall, on which Skanska USA Building of New York is wrapping up construction, follow the 2031 planning principles and will consume less space than allowed by zoning regulations.

NYU has a 2010 capital improvement budget of $593 million. It did not release cost on its current projects.

Turner has nearly completed reconstructing a 10-story hub with a cellar and subcellar, after demolishing everything but the fa�ade of the existing building, to create the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology. The $70 million center features classroom, laboratory, office and conference space. EYP Architecture & Engineering of New York serves as executive architect, and Ennead Architects of New York, formerly Polshek Partnership, designed the genomics center.

NYU is testing systems at its new $120 million cogeneration plant, built by Skanska.

NYU 2031 aims to green the campus, adding open spaces, daylighting, green roofs, stormwater retention systems and heat recovery. It strives for carbon neutrality, zero waste and LEED Silver-certification or a comparable rating.

Columbia University

Columbia University’s plans for its reportedly $6 billion, 17-acre Manhattanville in West Harlem campus are taking shape. Build out is anticipated to take 25 years. Renzo Piano Building Workshop and Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, both with offices in New York, developed the campus plan.

“Columbia is trying to secure its future for the benefit of teaching and learning,” says Joe Ienuso, facilities executive vice president for Columbia, about the Manhattanville expansion. The question is “how does Columbia continue to advance areas core to its mission, liberal arts, social sciences and natural sciences, medical, law and business, for the next 50 years. Space is an integral part of that.”

Columbia would not confirm a cost for the project. The University has selected Bovis Lend Lease as the lead construction management firm and the McKissack Group of New York as a core team member for the preparation, approval process and construction of phase one. The first phase of the project will include the Jerome L. Greene Science Center and new homes for the Columbia Business School, the School of International and Public Affairs, and the School of the Arts. Columbia did not disclose a start date for construction.

Bovis is working on utilities and has solicited bids for slurry wall and foundation work at Manhattanville. Bovis declined to provide additional information.

In addition, Columbia has several other projects in the works at its Morningside campus.

Turner is constructing the approximately $230 million, 14-story, 188,000-sq-ft Northwest Corner Building. Spain’s Rafael Moneo Arquitecto designed the structure, which will provide space for scientific instruction and research facilities for the disciplines of chemistry, biology, engineering and physics. David Brody Bond also serves as an architect on this project.

“It was built over the gymnasium,” Murphy says. Steel erector DCM Erectors of New York lifted the trusses up using a custom-designed crane, assembled them above ground and slid them across on a rail over the gym. The building is scheduled for completion in fall 2010.

Columbia plans to start construction on the Baker Athletic Complex Waterfront public access area in 2011.

City University of New York (CUNY)

The CUNY has $2.2 billion in new projects under construction at a variety of campuses and $908 million of new projects in design.

“A lot of the projects we are involved with, the planning started 10 years ago,” says Murphy, explaining that feasibility studies, land acquisition and bond sales take time.

At the City College campus in Manhattan, Skanska is working on the $705.8 million, 400,775-sq-ft Advanced Science Research Center and New Science facility, according to Dormitory Authority State of New York (DASNY) records. The Advance Science will accommodate nanoscience, photonics and environmental remote sensing studies and share a basement and core space with the science facility. It is scheduled for a 2013 completion.

Turner began work in 2007 on a $340 million, 14-story, 650,000-sq-ft multiuse building, designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan. Murphy anticipates completion late 2011.