School of Earth and Space Exploration

The LEED Gold certified Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 4 at Arizona State University (School of Earth and Space Exploration) is a clearly organized laboratory building that enhances the research, science and educational programs within.

The 285,000-square-foot, seven-story (plus a basement level) structure locates the office block component to the North, capturing ambient light and dramatic views, and the laboratory block to the South.

The ground level houses a public educational outreach gallery that is connected to the building's entrance lobby.

With a highly-mediated state-of-the-art 250-seat auditorium, large arcades and shaded entry, this is an important gathering place to communicate the exciting activities within to the larger community.

The goals of collaboration were paramount to the design. Scientists and engineers meet within the five-story, naturally-lit atrium (starting at the third floor) on a series of "living rooms in the sky".

The atrium serves as a bridge between labs and offices, encouraging chance encounters. This vessel of natural light connects all of these floors visually, psychologically, and physically with open stairways, lounges and meeting spaces.

Arizona State University’s latest science and technology building may be [their] most complex commission yet. ”

Interior Design

The School of Earth and Space Exploration was contracted as a CM at Risk project - however, based on the team's successful Design-Build collaboration on the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism - Sundt Construction, HDR Architecture and EA all collocated and delivered the CMAR as though Design-Build.

Location

Tempe, AZ

Client

Arizona State University

Year

2012

Status

Complete

Size

285,000 sf

Collaborators

  • Sundt Construction, Inc. - Construction
  • HDR Architecture - Executive Architect, Mechanical , & Electrical
  • Dibble Engineering - Civil
  • Ten Eyck Landscape Architects - Landscape
  • Paragon Structural Design, Inc. - Structural
  • Kaplan Gehring McCarroll Architectural Lighting - Lighting

Photographers

  • Bill Timmerman

Awards

  • 2013 Arizona Masonry Guild - Excellence in Masonry Architectural Award
  • Publications

  • 2013 ArchDaily
    Interior Design
    Trends
  • Educational, Research/Technology