Principia College Completes Watson Science Building Addition

ELSAH, ILL. -
Principia College in Elsah, Ill., contracted Mackey Mitchell Associates to design the Watson Science Building addition. Originally designed by Bernard Maybeck in the 1930's, the 51,000-sf project followed green design principles. It includes faculty offices, classrooms and labs for 10 science departments, a 200-seat auditorium and a greenhouse. Minimizing contact between the original structure and the addition, Mackey Mitchell opted for a "green" design featuring natural light via the central atrium, skylights, and clerestory glass block windows. A light-filled, glass-enclosed aviary houses tropical birds and plants. Other eco-features include: an insulated building envelope; a stained concrete floor; use of  recycled plastic partitions in the lavatories; recycled carpet; multi-switch, energy-efficient, direct/indirect lighting systems; and zone-variable motion sensitive air volume HVAC systems. To reduce heat loss and gain, the classroom structure was designed in a loop/racetrack plan, with support functions centrally located and teaching spaces on the perimeter with maximum exposure to natural light. A new auditorium and adjoining faculty office wing complement the existing structure. Completed in November 1999, the addition cost $160/sf and can accommodate 535 students. The project team included structural engineer Alper Audi, MEP engineer William Tao Associates, general contractor S.M. Wilson & Co., and construction manager Hercules Construction.