How UNLV Construction Projects Are Shaping Education in Southern Nevada
The University of Nevada Las Vegas continues to expand its physical footprint across the Maryland Parkway campus, bringing new facilities that directly impact student learning and community access to early childhood education. These construction projects represent more than just new buildings—they reflect UNLV’s commitment to providing modern learning environments that serve learners from preschool through graduate school.
The Connection Between Campus Infrastructure and Student Success
Modern educational facilities play a critical role in student outcomes. Research consistently shows that well-designed learning spaces contribute to better engagement, improved collaboration, and enhanced academic performance. At UNLV, administrators and construction partners recognize that investing in physical infrastructure is an investment in student success.
The university’s recent construction initiatives demonstrate a strategic approach to campus development. Rather than simply adding square footage, each project addresses specific academic and community needs—from expanding early childhood education capacity to creating state-of-the-art engineering laboratories.
Recent UNLV Construction Projects and Their Impact
Marlow Early Childhood Education Campus Expansion
The UNLV/CSUN preschool recently completed a significant expansion, adding a 6,900-square-foot building to the existing Marlow Early Childhood Education Campus. This project increased the preschool’s capacity to serve Southern Nevada families by 35 percent, addressing a critical need for quality early childhood education in the region.
Home to the Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center and UNLV/CSUN Preschool, the campus now serves over 300 children ranging from six weeks to five years old. For working parents in the Las Vegas Valley, this expansion means increased access to a nationally accredited early learning program that also serves as a training ground for UNLV students pursuing careers in education and child development.
Advanced Engineering Building: A Hub for Innovation
The College of Engineering’s Advanced Engineering Building represents a major step forward for STEM education at UNLV. This facility features interdisciplinary, open-concept laboratories designed to facilitate collaboration across engineering disciplines. The building connects to the existing Thomas T. Beam Engineering Complex through a skywalk, creating a cohesive engineering campus that serves thousands of students annually.
What makes this project particularly notable is the complexity of its laboratory spaces. Modern engineering education requires specialized environments—wet labs, fabrication spaces, and testing facilities—that demand careful planning and execution. The Advanced Engineering Building delivers these spaces while incorporating flexible design elements that can adapt as research needs evolve.
Ongoing and Upcoming Campus Developments
UNLV’s construction pipeline remains active. Recent completed work includes HVAC improvements at the Harry Reid Center, ensuring this research facility continues to support faculty and student research projects. Looking ahead, planned projects include student union upgrades and a new building for the Lee Business School, which will provide modern classrooms, collaborative spaces, and technology infrastructure for one of the university’s largest academic units.
The Role of Alumni in Building UNLV’s Future
One notable aspect of UNLV’s construction story is the involvement of university alumni in bringing these projects to life. Branden Brumble, who earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from UNLV in 2012, has served as project manager for CORE Construction on multiple campus developments, including the preschool expansion and Advanced Engineering Building.
Brumble’s path to this role illustrates the value of a UNLV education in the construction industry. After initially enrolling as a civil engineering major in 2003, he took a break to work in construction on the Las Vegas Strip. The experience of building during one of the city’s boom periods—and then navigating the Great Recession—provided real-world perspective that informed his decision to return to UNLV and complete his degree in construction management.
His family background in the trades—his father worked as a welder and his uncle as an architect—gave him early exposure to the construction industry. Combined with his UNLV education, this foundation prepared him for a career focused on educational and public sector projects.
CORE Construction’s Partnership with UNLV
CORE Construction, where Brumble works, has established itself as the top K-12 builder in the United States. The company’s portfolio includes schools, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, parks, and public works projects. In Nevada, this expertise translates to partnerships with the Clark County School District, UNLV, and the University of Nevada, Reno.
This specialization matters for educational construction projects. Building schools and universities requires understanding unique requirements: educational specifications, safety considerations, durability standards, and the need to minimize disruption to ongoing operations. CORE Construction’s focus on this sector means they bring institutional knowledge that benefits UNLV projects.
Bridging Classroom Learning and Field Experience
The relationship between UNLV and its construction partners extends beyond completed buildings. Through internship programs, current construction management students gain hands-on experience working on actual projects—a form of experiential learning that complements classroom instruction.
Students who intern on UNLV construction projects encounter real-world challenges: coordinating with multiple trades, managing schedules, ensuring quality control, and communicating with diverse stakeholders. These experiences often prove more valuable than textbook scenarios because they require students to apply theoretical knowledge under genuine project conditions.
What UNLV’s Growth Means for Prospective Students
For students considering the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the ongoing campus development signals institutional momentum. A university that invests in its facilities demonstrates confidence in its future and commitment to student success.
Prospective construction management students, in particular, benefit from attending a university where they can observe major projects firsthand. The ability to walk past active construction sites, discuss them in class, and potentially intern on them creates an educational environment difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Engineering students similarly benefit from new laboratory spaces that expose them to equipment and configurations matching what they will encounter in professional practice. The Advanced Engineering Building’s design philosophy—emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration—reflects how modern engineering work actually happens in industry.
The Economic Ripple Effect of University Construction
UNLV construction projects generate economic activity beyond campus boundaries. Construction spending creates jobs for local workers, purchases materials from regional suppliers, and generates tax revenue that supports public services. The university’s role as a major construction client helps sustain the local construction industry during periods when private sector development slows.
Additionally, improved facilities help UNLV attract and retain students from outside Nevada, bringing tuition revenue and consumer spending to the local economy. The early childhood education expansion, by making it easier for working parents to access quality childcare, indirectly supports workforce participation in the Las Vegas metro area.
Looking Ahead: UNLV’s Continued Evolution
As Las Vegas continues to grow and diversify its economy, UNLV will need to keep pace with expanded and improved facilities. The planned Lee Business School building and student union upgrades represent the next phase of this evolution. Future projects will likely address additional academic program needs, infrastructure maintenance, and opportunities to enhance the campus experience for students, faculty, and staff.
The pattern established by recent projects—thoughtful planning, community input, alumni involvement, and partnerships with experienced construction firms—provides a model for successful campus development. As UNLV moves forward with its Top Tier 2.0 initiative aimed at achieving national prominence as a research university, the physical campus will continue to reflect those ambitions.
Getting Involved with UNLV Construction Management Programs
Students interested in the construction industry should explore UNLV’s Construction Management program within the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering. The curriculum combines technical knowledge with business and management skills, preparing graduates for careers in project management, estimating, scheduling, and field operations.
Opportunities to engage with ongoing campus construction—through internships, class projects, or simply observing the work—provide practical context that enhances academic learning. The department maintains connections with industry partners like CORE Construction, creating pathways from graduation to employment.
Schedule a free consultation to learn more about UNLV’s construction management program and how it prepares students for careers in the building industry.
Share Your Perspective
Have you visited UNLV’s campus recently and noticed the changes? Are you a current or former student who has benefited from improved facilities? Share your experiences in the comments below—we’d like to hear how campus construction has impacted your educational journey.
For those interested in learning more about UNLV’s campus development plans or specific construction projects, explore our related articles for further reading on university facilities and infrastructure initiatives across the USA.
