A Pivotal Scientific Research Hub
The program for the Science + Health Building consists of departmental offices, lecture halls, classrooms, teaching labs, research labs, and a new central chemical distribution facility for the entire chemistry department. The building is seen as the "home" for chemistry, featuring the pedagogy of interdisciplinary teaching and research.
The building is a mixture of spaces to support the academic and research missions of the University. The programmatic layout allows long-term flexibility to adapt, meeting changing needs. The goal is to have the Science + Health Building serve as a pivotal scientific center of excellence for the campus, complementing the planned growth of the science quad. The building takes advantage of panoramic mountain views as it creates a vital linkage between key elements of the campus.
The building design is an open, flexible research platform with a multi-level atria space that provides open interaction and group study rooms adjacent to faculty and graduate student spaces. The atrium is naturally ventilated during the summer and solar heated during inclement winter months of Flagstaff. To minimize vertical movement of students, the first two levels include large lecture halls and mediated demonstration classrooms.
The building integrates a centralized chemical receiving and storage facility, resolving issues with the current chemical handling protocols for the north campus. Independent chemical and lab service distribution permits the "people" side of the building to be open and inviting, promoting interaction between students, faculty, and researchers.
Concept
The building references the region’s intense geological beauty. Illuminated white stairs zigzag across the atrium, a nod to the crystalline formations found in nearby caves; the composition of the exterior rain-screen panels references the rock strata in the mountains around Flagstaff.
Project facts
Joint Venture: Richärd Kennedy Architects | GLHN Architects + Engineers
Design Architect: Richärd Kennedy Architects
Architect of Record: GLHN Architects + Engineers
Client: Northern Arizona University
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Size: 122,000 SF
Project Type: Science + Technology, Higher Education
Services: Architecture, Programming, Planning, Interior Design, Sustainability
Delivery Method: CMAR
General Contractor: Mortenson
MEP Engineer: GLHN Architects + Engineers
Structural Engineer: Rudow + Barry
Landscape Architect: T. Barnabas Kane, Environmental Designer + Landscape Architect
Photographer: Bill Timmerman
Certification: LEED Gold
Press and Awards
2019 – AIA Western Mountain Region, Distinguished Architecture Honorable Mention
2016 – AIA Arizona, Citation Award
2016 – ENR Southwest Region, Honor Award in Education
2016 – IIDA Southwest Chapter PRIDE, Merit Award
2016 - RED Award, Education
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