Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Biola University: The Alton and Lydia Lim Center for Science, Technology and Health

  • 06/01/18
Biola University

PHOTOS © GENSLER / RYAN GOBUTY

Facing strong growth in all of its health and science programs, historically liberal arts-focused Biola University in La Mirada, CA, launched its largest capital improvement project to date—the Alton and Lydia Lim Center for Science, Technology and Health—a single building, creatively planned to leverage limited physical and financial resources, to house multiple undergraduate programs under one roof.

With the goal of successfully combining a varied set of users into the 91,000-square-foot science building, the Gensler design team partnered with university facilities leadership to conduct an extensive programming phase to ensure the right mix was achieved and the goals and aspirations of each would be met. Through this user engagement and a high-performance focused design a unique synergy was achieved, creating new learning opportunities and encouraging the cross-disciplinary interaction and exchange of ideas. Breakout areas, hallways, and conference rooms emulate the desirable amenities found in co-working spaces. Students in healthcare trajectories mingle with computer science majors and those in biological research and the physical sciences.

To meet site and budget constraints, Gensler developed a highly efficient four-story plan that reduced costs and allowed for greater flexibility and future reconfiguration through modular lab spaces. Bespoke teaching laboratories ring the perimeter while research labs with extensive glazing occupy the core, visually connected to vibrant collaboration areas and circulation. The objective was to enhance interest and thus interaction by making visible the widest possible range of study within the various programs. In contrast, a few special labs provide a totally immersive experience, transporting students into a clinical environment. A multi-bay human anatomy suite balances respectful concealment with generous daylighting. An expansive nursing lab is the pride of the nursing program, providing immersion through both the architecture of the space and state-of-the-art simulation mannequins. Finally, classrooms in the new facility are sized and configured to enable faculty to test emerging models of active learning.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management June 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • 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.

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • Wenger Names New Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts, Controls

    Wenger Corporation, which provides products and solutions for music and theater education, performing arts and athletic storage, recently announced the hiring of a new Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts and Controls.

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.