Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Case Western Reserve University Selects Architect for New Science Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/06/23

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

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • Embry-Riddle Completes Construction on Research, Lab Facility

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced the end of construction on a new research and lab facility on campus. The Center for Aerospace Engineering II (CAT II) will support aerospace research and technology development and broke ground last summer.

  • AAADM Announces Building Safety Month Initiatives

    The American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) recently announced its support of Building Safety Month as declared by the International Code Council (ICC), according to a news release.