Chico State Opens Behavioral & Social Sciences Building

Chico State University opened the $98 million building for the College of Behavioral & Social Sciences in February of 2025 in California. Designed by AC Martin, the 94,000-sf structure provides 22 classrooms, five teaching labs, conference and breakout rooms, faculty offices, and a 130-seat tiered lecture hall. The open-plan facility accommodates nine academic departments, strategically collocating resources to maximize space use. Leveraging the latest technologies to support a range of learning modalities, all classrooms and labs in the development are equipped with Chico Flex, a hybrid pedagogical tool enabling instructors to engage with students online and in person simultaneously. Collaboration and study venues are complemented by an indoor arboretum and coffee shop to create a holistic work environment that promotes occupant wellbeing. 

The sustainably designed center is the first net-zero energy building on campus, and incorporates a chilled beam cooling system, heat pumps, photovoltaic arrays, LED lighting, and low-flow plumbing fixtures. Air quality is enhanced by sophisticated HVAC infrastructure fitted with MERV 13 filters and carbon dioxide sensors. Extensive glazing transmits natural illumination to reduce reliance on artificial light sources. The biophilic facility is framed by native landscaping and includes outdoor benches made of local timber to further reduce the carbon footprint. Turner Construction broke ground on the design-build project in February of 2023.