Chico State University Breaks Ground on Behavioral and Social Sciences Facility

Chico State University broke ground in February of 2023 on a $98 million facility for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences in Chico, Calif. Designed by AC Martin, the 94,000-sf building will provide 22 classrooms, five research labs, conference and breakout rooms, faculty offices, and a large tiered lecture hall. Accommodating nine academic departments, the collaborative structure will feature integrated technologies to support a variety of learning modalities. Every classroom and lab will be equipped with Chico Flex, a hybrid pedagogical tool that enables instructors to engage with students in person and online simultaneously.

Representing the first net-zero energy project on campus, the sustainably designed facility will incorporate a chilled beam cooling system, heat pumps, photovoltaic arrays, LED lighting, and low-flow plumbing fixtures. Indoor air quality will be enhanced by sophisticated HVAC infrastructure fitted with MERV 13 filters and carbon dioxide sensors. Illuminated by natural light, the biophilic development will also include an indoor garden with trees and pedestrian bridges to promote occupant health and wellbeing. Turner Construction is the general contractor for the all-electric building, which is slated for occupancy in fall of 2024.