Higley served as the Construction Manager at Risk for the third floor $5.5 million renovation of the third floor for Case Western Reserve University’s Human Fusions Institute. The 21,000 SF cutting-edge research facility now houses advanced laboratories, offices, meeting areas, and collaboration spaces designed to support groundbreaking research in sensory-integrated technologies. Key features include a large robotics test arena, a submersible testing tank, and state-of-the-art presentation spaces, all supported by upgraded mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Enhanced audiovisual and security systems were also integrated to meet the specific needs of this innovative program.

The Human Fusions Lab is dedicated to creating socially responsible technologies that connect directly to the human neural system, enhancing capabilities and quality of life. The new lab develops transformative prosthetics that restore the sense of touch, allowing individuals with limb loss to feel delicate sensations, such as holding a grandchild’s hand. Gaming wearables designed in this space immerse users in virtual environments, letting them sense textures and physical properties like the hardness of a door or the softness of fruit. Higley’s collaboration with the university ensured the successful delivery of this high-performance facility, empowering the institute’s pioneering work in reshaping human interaction with technology.