Cal State East Bay Breaks Ground on Applied Sciences Center

Cal State East Bay broke ground in December of 2022 on the $30 million Applied Sciences Center in Hayward, Calif. Designed by SmithGroup, the 22,165-sf facility will provide flexible classrooms for active learning, a technology innovation hub, and interdisciplinary research space for programs in computer science and engineering. Open-concept laboratories will allow multiple student and faculty teams to engage in collaborative discovery. An instructional venue for biotechnology courses will enable students to gain hands-on experience with next-generation sequencers, while the Green Biome Institute will support the study and conservation of California’s endangered plants. The STEM Lab will accommodate first-year science courses and enhance Cal State East Bay’s peer-to-peer coaching program for improved academic outcomes.

Funded entirely through private contributions, the highly sustainable structure is expected to achieve net-zero energy operations. XL Construction is the general contractor for the project, which is slated for occupancy in spring of 2024.