San Diego State University Breaks Ground on Sciences and Engineering Laboratories

San Diego State University broke ground in February of 2024 on the $95 million Sciences and Engineering Laboratories in Brawley, Calif. Located on the Imperial Valley campus, the 37,000-sf structure will provide flexible classrooms, teaching labs, and training venues. The sustainably designed building will also include the STEM Innovation Hub where faculty and students can engage in collaborative research. A covered outdoor courtyard will act as a year-round destination for informal interaction and study.

Aligned with Imperial County’s Lithium Valley initiative, the transformative development will drive regional economic growth by preparing students for rewarding careers in geothermal engineering and green energy. The interdisciplinary facility will catalyze efforts to establish the state as a hub for lithium extraction and processing by creating a pipeline of skilled workers for this growing industry.

AC Martin is the architect for the building with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant and Sundt Construction as general contractor. The project team also includes Coffman Engineers, Glumac, Brightworks Sustainability, Acoustical Engineering Services (AES), Lighting Design Alliance, KM Architectural Consultants, Linespace, and Spurlock Landscape Architects. Occupancy is anticipated in fall of 2025.