A 70 percent spike in undergraduate STEM majors at La Roche University drove the $4.8 million renovation of Palumbo Science Center. The full interior redesign of the entire second floor will keep La Roche competitive and attractive to current and potential students and faculty. The modernization creates larger, state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and areas for collaborative research, with a central lounge where students can study, relax and meet for group work. PWWG first worked with college administration and science faculty to develop a Facilities Plan; following a successful fundraising campaign built around PWWG’s graphic products generated for the study, design was completed and the project was built.

PWWG’S DESIGN FEATURES:

• All primary labs and faculty offices have daylight and views.
• The bland, institutional looped corridor is redesigned as dynamic circulation with a variety of settings for students and faculty to collaborate and socialize.
• Unique BioSOLVE and ChemSOLVE labs where students direct novel research in a real-world setting.
• Comprehensive reconfiguration of space with new mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems ensures that the labs meet current standards for pedagogy, safety and human health.

Size

13,645 sf

Construction Cost

$4,800,000

Firm Responsibility

Higher Education Lab
Adaptive Reuse
Planning/Feasibility Study
Programming
Architectural Design
Contract Documents
Coordination of Consultants
Contract Administration

Completion Date

January 2020