Amherst, Ma – Payette announced the completion of a new 157,500gsf life sciences teaching and research building for the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
The Integrated Sciences Building (ISB) is part of a two-phase project to expand science teaching and research capabilities on campus with the goal of fostering interaction and collaboration between students and research faculty. The ISB was designed to meet the LEED® Silver standard. The phased plan calls for three wings in a U-shape, forming a courtyard at the northern end of the Stockbridge (east) campus open space. It is part of the University’s growing commitment to the life sciences and expanding presence as a research institution.
The $114.5 million first phase includes an L-shaped building comprised of a laboratory wing and a classroom wing. The laboratory wing houses teaching and research spaces for chemistry and biology programs. The heart of the ISB is a dramatic four-story concourse that runs along the entire southern edge of the classroom wing, flowing with people moving along balconies, bridges and stairs and providing a variety of meeting spaces at each level. The concourse’s enormous south facing window creates a showcase of science to the courtyard and east campus precinct beyond.
The building exterior is a juxtaposition of brick and curtainwall elements. The primary material of the ISB is a warm-toned red brick with bronze accents, matching nearby science buildings. Both the west and north wings are brick clad forms with punched windows.
Horizontal stripes of the bronze brick run between windows creating a vestige of strip windows prevalent in neighboring buildings. The concourse has a four story high curtainwall facing south to the landscaped courtyard.
This wall has a sunscreen of gray terracotta rods that recall the brick striping. Study “treehouses” floating within the sunscreen are clad with terracotta tile.
Payette was the architect and also provided lab planning, interior design and landscape architecture. The project team also includes Gilbane, Construction Manager; Vanderweil Engineers, Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Engineers; Lim Consultants, Structural Engineers; Nitsch Engineering, Civil Engineers; Available Light, Lighting Consultant; Acentech Inc., Acoustics and Audiovisual.