A concrete office section buffers laboratories from vibrations without sacrificing windowed offices for both faculty and student. The laboratories include electronic materials, magnetometry, spin stands, epitaxy, chemistry prep and x-ray topography. The entry staircase exhaust towers anchor at ends of the building, creating a volumetric symmetry, in front of Hamerschlag Hall. The laboratories are predominantly internal for electrophysics optics-type research in electronic material for data storage technology.

Immediate stairs connect the three floors, as well as the main gathering stair at the entry hub. The building is designed to encourage the use of stairs to increase interaction among scientists. Conference rooms and break areas are located at these junctures maximizing views of downtown Pittsburgh from Hamerschlag Hall's landmark tower.