Board Approves Final Plans For New Chemistry, Life Sciences Buildings
January 19, 2001
University Park, Pa. — Penn State’s Board of Trustees today (Jan. 19) approved final plans for a new chemistry building and a new life sciences building, both off Shortlidge Road at the University Park campus. The unique design of the two buildings includes a physical connection at upper-floor levels, to facilitate collaborative research activities in the two buildings.
The board also approved authorizing bids and awarding contracts for the life sciences building. In September, the board approved sketch/preliminary plans for both buildings; minor changes have been made to the project since then.
The chemistry building, primarily a research facility, will house state-of-the-art chemistry research laboratories, offices, a seminar room and support facilities. It will be built at the former site of the old Paul Robeson Cultural Center, west of Shortlidge.
The life sciences building has a dual mission: research in the life sciences and undergraduate teaching. The first floor is oriented substantially to teaching and will house an array of classrooms geared toward fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. The upper floors will be devoted to research and scientific collaboration. The building will be located off Shortlidge, between the Joab Thomas Building and Eisenhower Auditorium."
The glass-enclosed physical connection between the two buildings will be on both the third and fourth floors. The space will be a common area used for poster sessions, informal gatherings, and for researchers to move from one building to the other.
"The two projects combined represent one of the University’s largest projects ever," said Gary Schultz, Penn State’s senior vice president for finance and business/treasurer.
The total cost of the two buildings is about $97.3 million -- $54.3 million for the chemistry building and $43 million for the life sciences building.
The chemistry building is funded by the state, while the life sciences building is being funded entirely by private sources and University funds. Construction for both projects is expected to start in summer 2001.
The configuration of the two L-shaped buildings will allow the development of four separate "community spaces," Schultz said:
The facades of both buildings along Shortlidge will be predominantly brick, designed to harmonize with the Thomas Building in materials, colors, and massing. Each building will also have a predominantly glass façade to the south, fronting its outdoor courtyard, to take advantage of views and natural light.
The architect for both buildings is BLT/Payette Joint Venture Architects, of Philadelphia and Boston.
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Contact: Alan Janesch (814) 865-865-7517 or e-mail at ajanesch@psu.edu.