Case Western Reserve University Selects Architect for New Science Building

Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, recently announced that it has selected a designer for a new construction project on campus, according to a news release. The university chose interdisciplinary design firm HGA to design its Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB), which comes with a price tag of $300 million and is the university’s largest construction project in decades.

The building will stand in the Case Quad, which plays home to the university’s science and engineering buildings, and its northern side will serve as an entrance to the campus for the community at large. Design features include a windowed façade and landscaped entryway. The ultimate goal of the project is to create an environment that will attract researchers, stimulate economic growth, and foster collaboration and breakthroughs across different academic disciplines.

“A well-designed research building brings enough collaborative space that encourages interaction without undermining the space required for technical laboratories,” said Chris Martin, HGA principal and Science & Technology Market Sector Leader. “This new building has a distinct goal—to provide interdisciplinary teams a space that will allow them to join forces. Partnering with established and growing industries on research initiatives could lead to solutions for the world’s challenges.”

Local news reports that the new facility will be designed to create a “seamless transition from university to community.” It will provide research space for sciences including chemistry, biology, and physics, and engineering fields including biomedical, computer, and mechanical.

“We have some really terrifically talented researchers, but they are working in spaces that are 50, 60, or 70 years old, and just not conducive to the modern research that we need to be doing,” said Case Western Reserve University President Eric Kaler.

The news release reports that once complete, the ISEB will play home to research initiatives including the development of industrial-scale batteries for electrical grids; new green processes for sustainability in manufacturing; studying pathogens in HVAC systems; and developing new types of prosthetics, among others.

Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2024 and finish in 2026.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • Vanderbilt to Partner with ABM for Campus Preservation and Modernization

    Vanderbilt University recently announced that it has selected ABM Performance Solutions for a preservation and modernization project at its New York City campus, according to a news release. ABM will deliver its end-to-end ABM Performance Solutions (APS) model to manage critical operations during renovation and maintenance.

  • Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

    Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET).

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.