SHW Group To Engineer American University

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES-SHW Group will design and engineer a new 32,000-sf educational facility for Michigan State University in Dubai. The $3.7 million project will make MSU the first American university with a presence in the Dubai International Academic City.

The DIAC, has been called the world’s only free zone dedicated to international higher education. It was established in 2006 to help meet the growing demand for higher education in Dubai. Located about 20 minutes from the Dubai business district, the DIAC spans 25 million sf and is dedicated solely to universities and colleges. Eight million sf has been dedicated to the international higher education zone, while three million sf will be allocated for research and development centers.

Based in Plano, TX, SHW, which specializes in academic facilities, will oversee the project from its Detroit studio. SHW Group’s Dubai project will include MSU’s construction management, family and community services, communication arts and computer engineering programs. SHW designers are taking three floors of shell space in a new building through programming, conceptual design, schematic design and design development, which includes mechanical, electrical and architectural development.