Fulfilling the college's mission to create a research-rich, interdisciplinary science program, the 115,000-sf Center brings together the departments of biology, physics, chemistry, and psychology with state-of-the-art instrumentation and support. Since it opened its doors in January 2003, the Center has attracted a significant number of students, resulting in increased student research, according to the College.

Organized around a "racetrack"floor plan, the $36.5-million facility's shared resources are located in the center of the building's two wings with labs and classrooms around the perimeter. Rising from the first to the third floor, an 80' x 40' central, light-filled atrium creates a hub of faculty and student activities and serves as a visual integrator of the building. Departmental offices and the Science Center for Women are surround the atrium, linked by circulation pathways and informal seating.

On the ground floor, due to the sloping site, the east wing is partially underground, housing neurosciences, an imaging suite, a 1,200-sf vivarium, and mechanical space. The west wing, which is partially above ground, contains a 300-megahertz NMR, loading dock, stockroom, herbarium, and plant biology teaching and research labs with an adjacent 1,200-sf greenhouse. A 60-seat classroom is located in the center of the ground floor.

Psychology and physics departments are located on the first floor, along with seminar rooms, classrooms, and the Science Center for Women. Biology teaching and research labs are on the second floor with chemistry labs on the third floor. Laboratory support on the various levels includes preparation rooms, a tissue culture room, controlled environment rooms, an instrument room, and an electron microscope suite.

Wireless access is available throughout the building as is data and Internet connectivity. Most teaching labs have moveable tables, and utilities run overhead and are fed down to the casework. A mechanical penthouse is located on the roof.

Sited along a principal campus walkway, the Center facilitates pedestrian movement to and from academic buildings and athletic facilities. As a gathering space for non-science as well as science students, the atrium in particular has had the biggest impact. Filled with artwork inspired by science, including a floor-to-ceiling mural of the mitochondrial DNA of Agnes Scott, the mother of the founder of the college, the atrium is the site for many activities sponsored by the college and the community at large.

Project Information
Building Owner:		Agnes Scott College
Owner Contact:		Sandra Bowden, Professor of Biology, Project Shepherd/Overseer
Building Location:		Decatur, GA UNITED STATES
Project Type:		New Construction
Principal Building Function:		Science Research and Teaching
Project Delivery Method:		Construction Management
Project Timeline		Mar 1999 Planning Start May 1999 Design Start May 2001 Construction Start Dec 2002 Completion Last known status: Completed
Project Cost:		$36,500,000
Construction Cost:		$23,000,000
Cost Per Sq. Ft:		$200
		About These Cost Figures
Building Information
Project Includes:		Atrium Biology Chemistry Education Education: Biology Education: Chemistry Education: Physics Greenhouse Laboratory Laboratory: Chemistry Laboratory: Teaching Plant Growth Chambers Research Vivarium
Total GSF:		115,000
Total NSF:		60,500
Efficiency:		53%
Building Population:		750
People Density:		153 gsf/person
Building Services:		Hot water, cold water, Type 2 DI water, natural gas, laboratory vacuum, nitrogen and piped CO2 in selected spaces.
Special Equip:		Plant Growth Room, NMR, Electron Microscopy
Office Size:		200 NSF
Power Req:		17.52 w/nsf Lighting & Equipment: 9.81 w/nsf
HVAC Req:		1.17 cfm/nsf
Structure/Foundation:		Augar cast piles, concrete frame/steel frame at roof
Laboratory Parameters
Lab Module:		10'-4" x 30'
Casework Mat'l:		Red oak casework with epoxy resin benchtops
Project Team
Architect		Shepley Bulfinch
Consultant - Laboratory Design		Research Facilities Design (RFD)
Supplier - Building Automation Controls		Phoenix Controls Corporation
Supplier - Casework		Fisher Hamilton
Supplier - Fume Hood Controls		Phoenix Controls Corporation
Profile Created 02/11/2004
Last Updated 04/04/2006
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.