Wesleyan University Constructs Replacement Science Building

Wesleyan University is constructing a four-story, 190,000-sf science building in Middletown, Conn. Designed by Payette, the inclusive and accessible facility will provide 39 research and support labs, 10 classrooms, nine teaching labs, a vivarium, and a greenhouse. A central commons will act as a welcoming destination for informal interaction and study, accompanied by a café, an enclosed courtyard, and a landscaped plaza. Illuminated by natural light, the flexible structure will incorporate a 900-sf design module of four connected wet labs, separated by sliding glass doors, that can fully support both chemical and biological research activities. Each block will have a shared write-up space with movable furniture and a small kitchenette. 

Slated to achieve LEED Gold certification, the highly sustainable development will feature an advanced HVAC system, heat pumps, energy recovery technologies, and a double-glazed façade. FIP Construction broke ground on the facility in fall of 2022 with occupancy expected in spring of 2026. Replacing the 56-year-old Hall-Atwater building, the $255 million project includes the renovation of 25,000 sf in Shanklin Laboratories, which will be subsequently repurposed as the new home for the College of the Environment and the College of Integrative Sciences.