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A New Home for Science
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About the Science Center


Design Objectives


The Science Center was built to provide:

  • ample laboratory space to provide hands-on research experiences for all students
  • specialized, state-of-the-art faculty-student research laboratories to support the senior project
  • seminar rooms to enhance small classes and the Sophomore Seminar program
  • departmental and shared computer facilities

General Design Features


Unique characteristics of the design of this building include:

  • complete faculty involvement in laboratory and classroom design
  • an open approach to make science activity visible
  • numerous windows to the outside to bring light into almost every room in the building
  • four different types of student public/study area: enclosed small rooms, common rooms, open study areas and the atrium
  • wireless computer capability throughout the building as well as 1,300 wired network jacks
  • an organization with teaching labs on one side of the hallway and research labs on the other, organized "communities" to maximize efficiency for access to lab and support areas
  • equipment rooms in a bar on the inside of the building to make the labs quieter and more efficient
  • shared prep and storage rooms where possible
  • emergency panels in teaching labs with showers and eye washes
  • "atriette" stairway areas providing vertical connections between disciplines
"Green" features of the building include:
  • wood certified as meeting forest stewardship standards for all casework and millwork
  • heat recovery from fume hood exhaust
  • occupancy sensors in labs; for chemistry this changes air exchange from 10 to 4 changes per hour in unoccupied mode
Organization of the building (wall paint colors indicate departmental teaching and research laboratory areas, as described below):
  • Ground Floor: Physics laboratories (blue), auditorium, classrooms, and support and storage spaces
  • First Floor: Atrium, Geology laboratories (orange) toward the south end of the building and Chemistry laboratories (purple) at the north end
  • Second Floor: Archaeology laboratories (brown) in the southeast corner, Biology laboratories (green) and administrative assistants' offices
  • Third Floor: Psychology laboratories (yellow), animal room suite, greenhouse and classrooms

About the Science Center
Unique characteristics of the design of this building include:

complete faculty involvement in laboratory and classroom design

an open approach to make science activity visible

four different types of student public/study area: enclosed small rooms, common rooms, open study areas and the atrium

wireless computer capability throughout the building as well as 1,300 wired network jacks

an organization with teaching labs on one side of the hallway and research labs on the other, organized "communities" to maximize efficiency for access to lab and support areas

"atriette" stairway areas providing vertical connections between disciplines More ...