A glassy, three-story atrium is positioned to welcome students to the study of science and show off the college's commitment to environmental responsibility through innovative building techniques. Electronic displays tell the story of the geothermal heating and cooling system (using the constant temperature of the earth to help warm and cool the atrium), the displacement ventilation system (heating and cooling from below—at the location of the people affected), and other forward-looking techniques. Each discipline has its own identity represented in the atrium. Moveable furniture in the atrium allows for small or large groups of students to congregate for socializing or studying. One side of the atrium is known as the "intellectual hearth" and provides built-in seating and a chalkboard.

The new Science Center emphasizes the hands-on, research-based study that students will begin during their freshman year. Science majors at Hamilton are required to conduct independent scientific research prior to graduation. Reflecting the College's new teaching paradigms, the $56-million facility contains 48 teaching laboratories, 53 research laboratories, 67 support rooms, 11 high-tech classrooms, 56 faculty offices, many informal student areas, and a coffee shop.

The arrangement of the lab benches, with a focus on the teaching wall of the lab, is designed to promote group discussion. Utilities (air, gas, vacuum, and electricity) are fed from the floor below and are accessed either on the deck of the island benches or in the perimeter walls. Research labs contain a variety of overhead racks and shelving that allow for the integration of services at center island benches.

The physics department is on the ground floor and the geology and chemistry departments share the first floor. The department of biology and the archaeology faculty reside on the second floor. The third floor houses the psychology department, mechanical equipment, and a greenhouse. The 2,200-sf greenhouse is divided into five workspaces: two for students and three for faculty, with office space and a potting shed. Five separate chambers each provide a specific environment ranging from tropical to desert conditions.

Study areas are located at either end of the building and are equipped with wireless network access. Recessed bulletin boards, chalkboards, and recycling stations are located throughout the building. A 125-seat auditorium is located on the ground floor.

The ground floor NMR suite, which houses a 400MHz spectrometer magnet, has windows that open to the main corridor allowing for public viewing of the experiments in process and the equipment in use.

Special attention was paid to the use of environmentally friendly processes and materials during building design and construction. For example, all casework and millwork was required to meet forest stewardship standards, the stone cladding is from a local quarry, and the locations of glass, skyroof, and clerestories increase daylighting substantially.

Project Information
Building Owner:		Hamilton College
Building Location:		Clinton, N.Y. UNITED STATES
Project Type:		New Construction,Renovation
Principal Building Function:		Teaching and research
Project Delivery Method:		Construction Management
Project Timeline		Aug 2000 Planning Start Nov 2002 Design Start Aug 2002 Construction Start Aug 2005 Completion Last known status: Completed
Project Cost:		$59,000,000
Construction Cost:		$46,900,000
Cost Per Sq. Ft:		$244
		About These Cost Figures
Building Information
Project Includes:		Atrium Auditorium Biology Cafeteria Chemistry Education Education: Biology Education: Chemistry Education: Faculty Office Education: Lecture Or Seminar Hall Greenhouse Laboratory: Chemistry Laboratory: Dry And Wet Laboratory: Teaching Research
Total GSF:		205,000
Project Team
Architect		Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering P.C.
Construction Management		Barr & Barr, Inc.
Consultant - Fire Protection		Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering P.C.
Consultant - Plumbing		Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering P.C.
Engineer - Electrical		Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering P.C.
Engineer - Mechanical		Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering P.C.
Engineer - Structural		Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering P.C.
Laboratory Planner		Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering P.C.
Profile Created 10/19/2005
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.