Yale University’s new Science Building (YSB) is slated to join Phillip Johnson’s Kline Biology Tower- Yale’s tallest building- at the heart of Science Hill on Yale University’s northern campus. Science Hill is comprised of an eclectic group of buildings, arranged around a courtyard plaza atop Sachem’s Wood at the terminus of historic Hillhouse Avenue. Built between 1930 and 1980 they are of varied architectural styles and materials. On the site is Gibbs Lab, which will be replaced by a new science building designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli, in association with Stantec. This commission will create greater connectivity and encourage interdisciplinary research collaboration.

The main 4-story lab building will house numerous departments including: Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology (MCDB) Research Labs, MCDB Chemical Synthesis Labs, MCDB Plant Facilities & Greenhouses, inter-departmental Quantitative Biology Center (Q. Bio.), AMO Physics Labs, Imaging Center, and shared core labs. The building terraces down the east side of Science Hill following the natural grade of the “drumlin” landform. Its massing is kept intentionally low in response to the scale of the surrounding context. In addition, a pavilion containing a café, study and lounge space, and a seminar room will be situated between the main building and Kline Biology Tower, enclosing the southern end of the plaza and minimizing the winds that make the current plaza uncomfortable and underused. A new, inviting courtyard will be landscaped to unite the other science buildings and provide a more enlivened sense of place. Enveloped in a glass curtainwall with a grid of painted aluminum vertical piers and horizontal sun shades, Yale Science Building will co-exist in harmony with the other architectural styles and materials that inhabit Science Hill.

The project also consists of a large underground concourse level that connects all the buildings surrounding Science Hill as well as housing the vibration sensitive Physics and Imaging labs as well as a 500-seat lecture hall.

Credits:

1 AIA LU/HSW