The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) at Masters School is a cutting-edge facility dedicated to STEM-focused education. The architectural design blends contemporary elements with the historic campus language. The building is organized along the same principle as the “Harkness Method” of collaborative nonhierarchical instruction.
Strategically located equidistant from various sides of the campus, the IEC boasts two equally appealing front entrances. The building’s design aligns with the siting of the other historic structures on campus, and its materiality is a contemporary engagement with the natural and manmade architectural fabric of the campus’s past.
The IEC serves as a social nexus, encompassing tech learning spaces, wood and metal shops, a laser and 3D print room, and inviting lounge areas. It centralizes STEM learning, showcasing student achievements to the public. The heart of the IEC is the central 3-story atrium - the "Innovation Lounge" - meant to facilitate community gatherings and discussions. The program organization maximizes connections between interior and exterior, promoting shared use of technical spaces and encouraging interdisciplinary interactions.
Occupant well-being is prioritized with interior design decisions. Spatial variety and acoustic dampening wall materials create multiple environments conducive for group work and individual concentration.