Constructed on the site of an existing gymnasium and theater, the three-story building’s position plays a pivotal part in creating cohesiveness and flow on campus. Located between the older upper quadrangle of academic and residential halls and the lower campus of newer and larger academic buildings, the new science building acts as the nexus of these distinct areas, creating the feeling of easy interaction between the two. Helping to aid this idea of interaction is the huge Foucault pendulum that swings over a compass designed into the floor of the building’s atrium. The student lounges and natural history museum that flank the glass atrium and pendulum only further the Compton Science Center as the “core” of campus.

Boasting 41 state-of-the-art laboratories, the design features LEED principles and sustainable practices parallel to the ecological sciences taught there. As well as laboratories, the building is also equipped with a greenhouse, faculty offices, and specialized and general classroom space. Three-large tiered classrooms offer the latest in audio visual technology, while a distance learning classroom allows for direct communication between other departments in the University. Every seat and lab workstation is also outfitted with a telecommunication port connected to the wireless network.

Project Information
Building Owner:		Frostburg State University
Building Location:		Frostburg, Maryland UNITED STATES
Project Type:		New Construction
Principal Building Function:		Teaching facilities and labs
Project Delivery Method:		Construction Management
Project Timeline		Dec 2000 Construction Start Sep 2003 Completion Last known status: Completed
Project Cost:		$31,578,000
Construction Cost:		$26,511,760
Cost Per Sq. Ft:		$245
		About These Cost Figures
Building Information
Project Includes:		Atrium Biology Chemistry Education Education: Biology Education: Chemistry Education: Classroom Education: Distance Learning Education: Faculty Office Education: Physics Engineering Greenhouse Laboratory Laboratory: Teaching
Total GSF:		116,264
Project Team
Builder		Gilbane Building Company
Profile Created 03/01/2007
Last Updated 08/29/2008
About the Reported Cost Figures The cost figures reported are supplied by the firms that submitted these projects for publication, which in most cases are the designers or builders. Whereas these sources are intimately familiar with their projects, they may not be fully aware of the owners' finally-realized and recorded costs. In some cases, costs are truly and completely accounted for, and in others they represent a near approximation of the final costs. Costs have not been adjusted for year of construction, nor has any attempt been made to make regional cost adjustments. Further, costs are not comparable on any kind of detailed standard costing model. Hence, it is possible for the cost of one building to include a steam boiler, while the cost of a comparable building might not include the boiler, if steam is being supplied from an already existing campus grid. Or, in another case, a building might include excess boiler capacity to supply steam to another building. Some submittals include fees or unusual site improvements as part of the construction costs, which others do not.