Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/23/26

Key Takeaways

  • Montclair State University has broken ground on a $120-million, 110,000-square-foot Interdisciplinary Science Building that will open for the 2028–29 academic year, supported in part by a $60-million state capital facilities grant.
  • The facility is designed to advance interdisciplinary STEM education and research with modern academic and research labs, technology-enabled classrooms, collaborative spaces, student lounges, and specialized areas such as The Imaginarium and an indoor/outdoor classroom.
  • The project emphasizes sustainability and workforce readiness through LEED Silver-targeted design features—including solar energy, native landscaping, and stormwater management—while creating flexible spaces for industry partnerships and collaborative innovation.

Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year. Funding came partially through a $60-million capital facilities grant from the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

The 110,000-square-foot facility will include academic and research labs, a flexible event space, faculty workspaces, technology-equipped classrooms, collaborative workspaces, and student lounges, the news release reports.

"The new Interdisciplinary Science Building will dramatically change the experience for science students at Montclair State University," said Lora Billings, dean of Montclair’s College of Science and Mathematics. "By providing larger, more accessible state-of-the-art lab facilities, in addition to all of the available spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, we will be preparing students with the tools they need to enter the workforce as productive scientists of the future."

Spaces designed for research and collaboration include The Imaginarium, a flexible and scalable space for data analysis and visualization; an Indoor/Outdoor Classroom space that will connect to the building’s plaza; a fourth-floor space left open for partnership with other companies and organizations; and a rooftop terrace. Sustainability initiatives include the harvesting of solar energy, a native rain garden, dry stream bed, and native bioswale to target a LEED Silver Certification.

"At Montclair, we strive to offer an academic experience that is both accessible and excellent. The Interdisciplinary Science Building is part of that commitment," said Jonathan Koppell, university president. "Fulfilling our mission requires constant innovation and investment to ensure we provide the best experience possible for our students. By creating modern laboratories, collaborative spaces and research opportunities, we ensure our students receive an education worthy of their investment while preparing them to shape the future of New Jersey."

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Compton High School

    Compton High School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Compton High School has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • UTampa Breaks Ground on STEM Academic Facility

    The University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., recently broke ground on one of its largest academic facilities ever, according to a news release. The Dickey Science Innovation Center will measure 153,000 square feet and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • 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.

  • Higher Ed is Betting on New Buildings While Quietly Undermining Their Campuses — Here’s Why

    In this climate, the owner’s representative has changed from a delivery-focused advisor to a strategic campus partner. Institutions are increasingly relying on owner’s reps not just to manage, cope, schedule, and budget, but also help evaluate whether a project should proceed at all.