Giving Physical Form to a Research-Focused Vision

Howard University’s science building is designed to be home to the University’s core science and research facilities. An important piece of the University’s Academic Renewal Program, it also serves as a catalyst to spur development of the southern end of University’s Central Campus. The science building houses trans-disciplinary research conducted by teams comprised of scientists, engineers and biomedical researchers from various departments. These teams focus on program areas such as biomedical imaging, computational biology and bioinformatics, nanotechnology, proteomics and sickle cell, stem cell cancer and gene array studies. The design respects Howard’s legacy while giving physical form to a 21st century academic vision that affirms the University’s preeminence in research-focused higher learning.

Key features include:

• An energy-efficient, clear glass curtain-wall allows people along Georgia Avenue to glimpse research activities being conducted within the building.
• A terracotta rain-screen system provides a connection to the predominantly masonry buildings on campus.
• Ground floor retail that faces Georgia Avenue, a lobby, 200-seat auditorium, café, high performance computer center, conference rooms, lounges and visitors areas offer space for formal and informal interaction and collaboration.
• Additional programmatic elements include wet and dry labs and associated lab support spaces, a vivarium, Class 100 (ISO 5) and Class 1000 (ISO 6) cleanrooms, faculty offices and other core services.