Yale University Opens Science Building

Yale University opened the $283 million Yale Science Building in October of 2019 in New Haven, Conn. Housing the entire Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology department, the 280,300-sf multidisciplinary facility also accommodates part of the Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry department, as well as supporting faculty from physics and chemistry. The collaborative seven-level structure, which includes two floors below grade, features flexible labs that integrate both research and teaching functions in the same space. The facility houses the Quantitative Biology Institute, the 500-seat Marsh Lecture Hall, an insectary, a rooftop greenhouse, classrooms, offices, an outdoor plaza, the Schamis Terrace, and core labs for microscopy, chemical synthesis, and aquatics. Pelli Clarke Pelli designed the building’s façade and public spaces. Stantec designed the interior spaces, including the laboratories, as well as providing engineering services. Acentech was the vibration, acoustic, audiovisual, and IT consultant. The facility has an energy-use target that is 50 percent lower than the average for a Yale laboratory and utilizes highly efficient building systems, chilled beams, occupancy sensors, and sophisticated automation technologies to optimize performance. LEED Gold sustainable design certification will be sought for the project, which broke ground in February of 2017.