The new Academic and Laboratory Science Building will host teaching and research labs for physics, earth science, environmental science, molecular biology and chemistry. It will include a supercomputing lab for research in theoretical physics, bioinformatics and computer science within four-stories and 103,608 square feet.  The building is being entirely designed and documented in BIM using Revit and the project is targeting LEED Silver certification.  Budget $49M.  Expected completion in Spring 2015.

The building will house the Werth Center for Marine and Coastal Studies, on the second floor and the CSU Center for Nanotechnology will be located on the ground floor, where the laboratory space is designed to isolate the building’s vibrations — important when dealing with microscopic materials.  The center will have several new labs, including an analytic lab and a sediment coastal science lab.

A saltwater aquaria room with a touch tank will also be featured in the new building and will serve as a centerpiece for outreach to area schools and the community.  Other amenities include an outdoor rock garden showcasing rocks indigenous to Connecticut; six rooftop telescope stations strategically placed to eliminate interference from city lights; a pair of 50-seat general purpose classrooms, as well as office space and study/common areas. Scientific displays will be located throughout the building to showcase faculty and student research.

Architect: Centerbrook Architects and Planners