Santa Monica College Opens Mathematics and Science Building

Santa Monica College officially opened the Mathematics + Science Building in November of 2025 in California to elevate STEM education. Designed by Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign, the 110,000-sf facility brings together the departments of earth sciences, mathematics, life sciences, and physical sciences to spark interdisciplinary collaboration and discovery. The four-story structure provides 22 interactive classrooms and 11 laboratories that are equipped with advanced instructional technologies to enable hybrid teaching modalities and foster an experiential learning environment. 

Organized around a central courtyard, the $125 million building accommodates lecture halls, study venues, and a library. The astronomy program is enhanced by a 100-seat planetarium with a best-in-class digital projection system, as well as a 360-degree rooftop observatory boasting a 0.7-meter CDK700 telescope that can be accessed by the public. Offering abundant natural illumination from a channel glass façade, the modern development serves as an inviting campus crossroads and connects to the existing sciences complex via a bridge walkway. 

The LEED Gold-certified facility employs diverse sustainability measures to reduce environmental impact, including robust mechanical systems, efficient lighting, low-flow toilets, reflective roofing, and drought-tolerant landscaping. Icon West served as construction manager for the transformative project with Saiful Bouquet as structural engineer.