Spring Break
Plans for new Shapiro Science Center's interior design unfold
by Miranda Neubauer
Senior Writer
News | 10/16/07
Posted online at 8:55 PM EST on 10/15/07
/ Last updated at 4:49 AM EST on 10/15/07
Plans for the interior design of the Carl J. Shapiro Science Center are becoming more concrete as construction on the complex goes underway, including the design for an atrium serving as the Center's public space, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter French said.
Planning groups consisting of faculty and administrators are focusing on specific issues such as furniture, signage and graphic displays in the atrium.
The new $154 million Science Center is slated for completion at the end of 2008. Payette Associates, a leading architectural firm in Boston, is heading the project.
The first phase of the whole science complex's construction, which commenced in spring 2006 and is expected to be complete in Spring 2009, includes the construction of the new science building, followed by the demolition of Kalman and Friedland, and eventually Edison-Lecks, all built in the 1950s.
With the atrium, there is an opportunity for a "social hub that we haven't had in the science complex," Feldman said. French said that there will an Einstein Bros' Brothers café in the atrium.
"People are very interested in the [atrium] being a flexible forum," Feldman said.
The goal, Feldman said, was to create a space that could host both formal and casual events. He added that science faculty members are interested in the possibility of being able to arrange "poster sessions" to present their research.
Feldman also called the new center "a great opportunity to tell the history of science at Brandeis" and to present current research projects.
He said planning groups were exploring the use of graphics and electronic displays to that end.
Faculty members emphasized the need for more modern facilities in the new center
Prof. Neil Simister (BIO) said he would like to see bigger and better lecture facilites.
"Some of the early lectures in the biology track have 200 students and there's really only one lecture theater in the science area that can fit that class adequately," Simister said. "With the conflicting demands of biology and chemistry, it's often hard to schedule the large classes for that theater."
Planning groups consisting of faculty and administrators are focusing on specific issues such as furniture, signage and graphic displays in the atrium.
The new $154 million Science Center is slated for completion at the end of 2008. Payette Associates, a leading architectural firm in Boston, is heading the project.
The first phase of the whole science complex's construction, which commenced in spring 2006 and is expected to be complete in Spring 2009, includes the construction of the new science building, followed by the demolition of Kalman and Friedland, and eventually Edison-Lecks, all built in the 1950s.
With the atrium, there is an opportunity for a "social hub that we haven't had in the science complex," Feldman said. French said that there will an Einstein Bros' Brothers café in the atrium.
"People are very interested in the [atrium] being a flexible forum," Feldman said.
The goal, Feldman said, was to create a space that could host both formal and casual events. He added that science faculty members are interested in the possibility of being able to arrange "poster sessions" to present their research.
Feldman also called the new center "a great opportunity to tell the history of science at Brandeis" and to present current research projects.
He said planning groups were exploring the use of graphics and electronic displays to that end.
Faculty members emphasized the need for more modern facilities in the new center
Prof. Neil Simister (BIO) said he would like to see bigger and better lecture facilites.
"Some of the early lectures in the biology track have 200 students and there's really only one lecture theater in the science area that can fit that class adequately," Simister said. "With the conflicting demands of biology and chemistry, it's often hard to schedule the large classes for that theater."
Be the first to comment on this story