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

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.

  • Chicago District Completes Construction on New Elementary School

    North Chicago School District 187 in North Chicago, Ill., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Forrestal Elementary School, according to a news release. The new school marks a major investment in military-connected students and families at Naval Station Great Lakes.