Leading global development and construction firm Skanska has completed George Mason University’s (GMU) new Life Sciences and Engineering Building on the school’s Prince William County Science and Technology (SciTech) Campus. The state-of-the-art, $85.4 million facility spans 132,000 square feet of purpose-built space, featuring advanced research laboratories, specialized teaching facilities and flexible innovation zones designed for breakthrough work in bioengineering, bioinformatics and computational life sciences.
“We pride ourselves in constructing future-enabled facilities that attract the brightest minds to lead the innovations of tomorrow,” says Mark Balling, Executive VP and GM responsible for Skanska’s Mid-Atlantic region. “This strategic expansion strengthens George Mason’s position as a life sciences hub while advancing its mission to prepare the next generation of STEM-H leaders through advanced research facilities and collaborative spaces,”
The Life Sciences and Engineering Building includes an array of specialized instructional labs, classrooms, experiential learning laboratories and faculty and administrative offices to support growing student and faculty communities on the campus.
A public, comprehensive, research university established by the Commonwealth of Virginia in the National Capital Region, George Mason University is an innovative and inclusive academic community committed to creating a more just, free and prosperous world. As Virginia’s largest public research university, George Mason University provides a college experience like no other. A top 50 public university according to the Wall Street Journal, GMU is ranked No. 52 as a public university and No. 109 among all universities nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The primary users are the College of Engineering and Computing, the College of Science, the College of Education and Human Development, the College of Visual and Performing Arts and students enrolled in STEM-H majors, such as kinesiology, materials science, forensic science, bioengineering and mechanical engineering.
The building enhances George Mason’s SciTech Campus as a premier research and education hub creating a dynamic residential campus experience that supports students from their freshman year through their post-graduate work. Located in the heart of Virginia’s tech corridor, the campus serves as a vital academic center for communities across Prince William, Fauquier, and western Fairfax counties along with the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and surrounding regions.
Engineering excellence
Skanska’s work on the Life Sciences and Engineering Building underscores the company’s dedication to delivering high-quality, sustainable construction projects that meet the evolving needs of educational institutions and the communities they serve.
Skanska currently has more than $640 million of projects in progress in its Mid-Atlantic region which includes Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia and North Carolina. With operations in select markets throughout the Nordics, Europe and the U.S., global revenue totaled $15.9 billion in 2024. Skanska in the U.S. operates 28 offices across the country, with its headquarters in New York City.
In 2024, the U.S. construction sector generated $8.2 billion in revenue, and the U.S. development sector’s net investments in commercial projects totaled $224 million. Together with its customers and the collective expertise of our 6,300 teammates in the U.S. and 26,300 globally, Skanska creates innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime.
