Georgetown University in DC to get Payette-designed science center

The new state-of-the-art science center by Payette will be positioned in the mid-campus area. Its prime location in the campus will improve pedestrian conditions by drawing the Georgetown community into and through this zone.

Payette has preserved the strong rhythm and relationship of open spaces to buildings on the Georgetown campus. The architects have made use of the steep grade of the site by creating terraced areas for students and faculty to gather together. This has also helped in improving the flow of pedestrian traffic.

A dramatic path starts from the southern entrance of the building on the first level and spans through the Leavey Center on the fourth floor. The structure has been designed in a way to facilitate strong links between the McDonough School of Business to the west and the majority of campus facilities to the east. This is made possible by its strategic location adjacent to the Rafik B. Hariri Building, housing the McDonough School of Business. A south-facing quadrangle with terraces stepping 45 feet up to the Leavey Center, helps in promoting the use of outdoor space at all the five levels.

A string of sustainable and green elements have been incorporated into the new science center and the scheme is expected to get LEED-Silver certification. Chilled beams, enthalpy wheels, maximum daylight and views, native plants, a water reclamation system and renewable materials are some of the green features.

The new science center will house research and teaching laboratories, classrooms, and offices for the biology, chemistry, and physics departments.

The science center forms the first phase of the Science Facilities Master Plan that aims to restructure the ageing science building on the campus in order to accommodate the growing student population. The first phase will undertake the construction of the new science center spanning 154,000 square feet. Renovation of the existing Reiss Science Building and the addition of connecting bridge between the two structures will be undertaken as part of the second phase of the master plan.