Swedish contractor Skanska has won two contracts worth a total of $201m, one to build a $103m academic building for Virginia State University, the other for a $98m data centre in Arizona.

In Virginia, Skanska will build a 52,000 sq m academic commons building in the city of Petersburg. The facility will contain classrooms, media laboratories, broadcast production labs, multipurpose auditoriums, ceramics labs and distance learning areas.

Exercise areas include an elevated running track, basketball courts and a swimming area complete with a six-lane, 25-yard competition pool.

The project also includes the demolition of Harris Hall and Daniel Gymnasium.

Construction is due to begin January 2023 and be completed 2025.

Skanska will also build a data centre in Phoenix, Arizona, as part of a $98m contract. The two-storey, 80,000 sq m development will contain a data centre and office building.

This is Skanska’s second contract at the 7-acre campus on behalf of an unnamed data centre operator.

Work on the data centre is under way and is due to be finished in November 2023.