Seattle Pacific University Science Building
The Laboratory Sciences building represents Phase I of the University’s
commitment to the sciences, bringing the Biology, Chemistry and portions of the
Psychology departments to a prominent location on the central historic campus,
known as The Loop. The new science building replaced two buildings that were no
longer functioning for the University. The existing science building is located
at the edge of the urban campus, and will continue to house the remaining science
programs until the construction of a future Phase II addition to this building.The selection of this prominent location required an appropriate design response allowing the new science building to take its place among the historic and revered buildings that make up the core of the Seattle Pacific University campus. Traditional building materials and careful integration of mechanical equipment continue the character of the existing campus.
The ground floor of the new science building is designed to invite all students and faculty into the building. The Garden Vestibule, Discovery Room and Study Room together form a chain of “common” spaces, designed to link the sciences with the activity of the general campus. The Discovery Room, sharing its volume with the main stair, is a gallery space for the interactive display and presentation of scientific education. Teaching spaces are designed to promote interaction between disciplines through shared support and research spaces, and the corridors feature display cases and windows into the lab environments, encouraging students to “learn by walking the halls”.
The Laboratory Sciences building is a high-touch, high-tech facility. Lab environments will focus on hands-on macro scale experimentation to better equip students with the practical skills needed in the workplace. Communications cabling extends to each laboratory, teaching, and learning station; including each seat in the Lecture Hall. Building features include; 11 teaching laboratories, 8 research laboratories, an imaging suite, a 70 seat lecture hall, rooftop greenhouse, 17 faculty offices, and multiple spaces for interaction and study. A basement houses the more security and vibration sensitive equipment and spaces, while floors 1-3 are devoted to the teaching and learning spaces. The mechanical equipment is located in a penthouse level, concealed within the hip roof form.
The building received LEED™ (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification in 2005.