CSU, Chico to Break Ground on New Physical Science Building

This week saw the unveiling of the first images of the new Physical Sciences Building at California State University, Chico (CSU, Chico), in Chico CA. The groundbreaking for the new facility, which will include new teaching facilities and equipment, will take place in the fall of 2018. The new building will help emphasize STEM disciplines, and also encourage collaboration between science and engineering students, and the campus community.

CSU Chico

Designed by San Francisco firm SmithGroupJJR and slated to open in Fall 2020, the building will house classrooms and labs for a host of science disciplines including chemistry, physics, and geology. The building also emphasizes spaces for students to come together in indoor and outdoor settings, and use the natural environment campus as a tool to enhance classroom and in-the-field science education. There will also be a hands-on lab space for K-12 students to come learn and work with CSU, Chico Students across a range of science disciplines. 

The new building is being envisioned with sustainability as a key component, with the design team being mindful of energy and water use required by science laboratories, and designing the facility in a way that will maximize overall energy savings. The building is being funded by system-wide Revenue Bond Program along with campus designated reserves.

Featured

  • Understanding the Training of School Resource Officers

    SROs are now integral components of nearly every educational system in the country. But instead of being a more passive entity in schools, they have gradually become mentors to students, adding to their support network of teachers, parents, coaches, and other caring adults.

  • Craig Gaulden Davis Architecture Announces Merger with PBK

    Craig Gaulden Davis Architecture (CGD), based in South Carolina and Maryland, recently announced that it has merged with PBK, the largest K–12 architectural firm in the U.S., according to a news release. The firm will operate as Craig Gaulden Davis | PBK with 31 offices across the country.

  • Minnesota High School Completes $226M Addition, Renovation Project

    White Bear Lake Area High School – North Campus in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $226-million renovation and addition project, according to a news release. The district partnered with Kraus-Anderson for the project’s construction, which involved creating a single high-school site for the White Bear Lake Area School District.

  • Active Learning Classroom

    Striking a Balance: The Keys to Renovating Science Education Buildings for the 21st Century

    The recent renovation of the Durham Science Center at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) provides a roadmap for facilities managers tasked with balancing budget constraints, modern pedagogical demands, and long-term sustainability.