One of the most prominent buildings of the Akron skyline
is the Polymer Science Complex, a state-of-the-art laboratory facility designed
to house the University of Akron’s world famous Polymer Institute.
Sited prominently on the major east-west corridor of the
campus and adjacent to the Auburn Science Center, this building complex creates
a cohesive research facility for graduate and doctoral candidates.
The facility includes 50 research laboratories located in
3 of the 4 corners of each of the structure’s two towers. The fourth corner is open to a three-floor
atrium. Complete facilities for these
laboratory research clusters are contained in these communicating
three-floors. Laboratories are smaller
than five workstations, have individual offices adjacent to each lab for its
technicians, and are located at the corners of the structure. Service areas are concentrated in the
building’s center. Offices for faculty
research advisors are included within the clusters. One tower accommodates chemistry laboratories
and the other houses physical science laboratories.
Within each tower, the atria alternate diagonally through
the building. The lower three floors of
each tower provides spaces for a lobby, lecture and display, administrative
offices, classrooms, teaching laboratories as well as other necessary support
facilities.
Within this beautiful facility, graduate and doctoral
candidates pursue the exciting investigation and discovery of new science and
technologies. The building’s transparent
glass shell conveys its different functions, while at the same time expressing
the creative activity found within the building.
All
laboratories are designed for independent research. Four individuals are located in each 1,000
square foot lab, providing generous space for a variety of experiments to
continue as new projects are initiated.