Rice University Constructs Brockman Hall for Physics

Rice University will begin construction in fall of 2009 on the $44.5 million Brockman Hall for Physics in Houston. The National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded $11 million in stimulus funding for the project in July of 2009. Designed to foster interactive collaboration and consolidate research operations in fundamental and applied physics, the 110,000-sf project will feature vibration- and noise-controlled laboratories located underground to support work in biophysics; condensed matter physics; nanoengineering, photonics; and atomic, molecular, and optical physics. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the project, which will include 16 physics labs, six engineering physics labs, faculty and graduate offices, conference rooms, and a lecture hall. The building will house a significant portion of the Rice Department of Physics and Astronomy as well as faculty from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering who are pursuing research in applied physics. The project team includes design architect KieranTimberlake Associates of Philadelphia with predesign services provided by Perkins + Will of San Diego and FKP Architects of Houston. Occupancy is slated for spring of 2011.