Urbahn’s master plan and design established a building complex that formed a new landscaped Science Quadrangle, creating a singular sense of place within the greater campus. Expressed in traditional forms, clad in brick and cast stone with Doric columns and arched windows, the complex met the client’s requirement for stylistic homogeneity with the historic campus core. Juxtaposing the building’s classical exterior, the interior abounds in state-of-the-art facilities to support the departments of biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, astronomy, and geology. Specialized teaching and research facilities include an electron microscopy laboratory, a planetarium, two observatories, and two greenhouses. A vital component of the design was the creation of informal commons areas adjacent to learning spaces, as well as arcades, a generous entrance lobbies, and an arched portico to encourage casual student and faculty interaction.
