Designed as a facility which would help to promote interdisciplinary study, the 70,470 square foot SegerstromScienceCenter at Azusa Pacific University houses teaching and laboratory spaces for a wide range of sciences. The building is the first new facility to be built on the expanding West Campus of the university, positioning it to set the tone for further development. The triangular floor plan resolves the site restrictions and is defined by two and three story wings, intersecting to form an open air courtyard that creates an informal area to collaborate, study and socialize.
Specific building programmatic elements include 23 teaching labs, 9 research modules, the equivalent of 14 lab support modules, a glass wash area, stockrooms and a 1,500 square foot vivarium for small animals. In addition to the requisite spaces for teaching and research, the new science center has a 200 square foot rooftop greenhouse, a 40-foot long fresh water teaching pond located in the courtyard, student conference rooms, rooftop patios, and private lounges for each of three faculty office sections. What all of these areas have in common is the capability to attract people so that communications will be enhanced and the building will be considered a home.
Running along the entire northern face are glass channels punctuated with clear glass windows; the glass channels distribute even light throughout the laboratories while the windows provide views to the mountains. The glass provides a rich contrast to the multicolored cement panels used on the rest of the façade.