EDUCATIONAL ARCHITECTURE

Davis Brody Bond collaborated with Arup to develop a feasibility study and concept design of two new laboratory building additions and a cyroplant on the Cornell University campus. The two laboratories will be built into the adjoining hillside and integrated with the existing Wilson Laboratory, a brick and concrete structure originally built in 1965, and will provide facilities in excess of 200,000 gsf, along with a third building will house the cryoplant of approximately 53,000 gsf. The design of the lab buildings is driven by both the high sensitivity of the equipment they will house and the steep sloping of the site, which requires careful consideration of vibration and slope stability issues. The design features a “cascading/stepped” building concept, starting on the lowest level where the existing Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR) and will house the new Energy Recovery Linear Accelerator and X-ray experiment facilities is located and stepping back as it adds laboratory and office levels at the upper levels. Our team developed the program and design in collaboration with faculty, graduate students and campus facility groups – an essential effort to understanding the scientific, cultural and architectural balance of this fully integrated facility.