Integrated Science Commons

Bridging a gap and integrating the sciences while supporting budding young scientists with teaching and research spaces in a sustainable, living laboratory

DOC provided construction management services for the Integrated Science project at Vassar College. The centerpiece of the $101 million project is the 80,000-square-foot Bridge Building that spans two pieces of campus terrain across the Fonteyn Kill and connects to Olmsted Hall with a two-level skywalk.

The Bridge Building houses biochemistry, chemistry, environmental science, a science visualization lab, a phytotron and herbarium. The facility features modern labs, faculty office suites, flexible classrooms, gathering places, and an outdoor seating area.

The project also included 76,000 square feet of extensive renovations to three existing buildings—New England Building, Sanders Physics building, a partial renovation of Olmsted Hall—and the demolition of the Seely G. Mudd Chemistry Building.

New England Building: Extensive renovation of 22,000 square feet of research labs for ‘dry’ psychology research.

Olmsted Hall: Included 26,000-square-foot renovation of space that housed biology, psychology, neuroscience and behavior, animal behavior and physiology suite, electrophysiology suite, vivarium, and a human data acquisition suite.

Sanders Physics: Extensive 28,000-square-foot renovation of space that housed computer science, physics and astronomy, computer labs, physics research, and collaborative learning labs.

Seely. G. Mudd Chemistry Building: Demolition of 50,000 square feet of research laboratories and classrooms.

Project Highlights

• New construction, including a 80,000 sf science building.
• Extensive sitework was required while working within the 5 acre maximum disturbance area requirements.
• Logistical considerations for an active campus setting (parking, increased traffic for material deliveries and pedestrian routes).
• BIM was utilized extensively for this project.
• The Bridge Building is registered with the certification goal of LEED® Silver. The New England Building and the Sanders Physics Building are both LEED® Certified.