New $48m state-of-the-art science building opens.Shelton, CT-based architectural firm An architectural firm is a company which employs one or more licensed architects and practices the profession of architecture. History Architects (master builders) have existed since early in recorded history. The earliest recorded architects include Imhotep (c. , Fletcher Thompson Standish Fletcher Thompson (born February 5, 1925) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a representative in Congress for the 5th Congressional District of Georgia. Early life Thompson was born in College Park in Fulton County, Georgia. , and New York-based architectural firm, Mitchell/Giurgola Architects, have announced the completion of the New Science Building at Western Connecticut State University's (WCSU WCSU Western Connecticut State University (Danbury, Connecticut) ) midtown campus. The $48-million project officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 26. This 122,000 s/f, three-story structure houses the Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Astronomy and Meteorology meteorology, branch of science that deals with the atmosphere of a planet, particularly that of the earth, the most important application of which is the analysis and prediction of weather. Departments and the WCSU Weather Station. The facility includes laboratories, classrooms, lecture halls, an observatory, greenhouse and office and administrative space. "This facility demonstrates our approach to designing aesthetically pleasing and efficiently functional higher education higher education Study beyond the level of secondary education. Institutions of higher education include not only colleges and universities but also professional schools in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art. buildings," commented Peter J. Visentin, AIA AIA - Application Integration Architecture , associate principal, Fletcher Thompson. "The New Science Building has been designed and constructed in a sustainable manner and replaces the outdated facilities in Higgins Hall, which underserved the WCSU student and faculty. Our objectives were to make science appealing through the facility design; to promote interaction between faculty, student and staff; and to provide an active entry for students approaching from the campus' center." The New Science Building's design promotes a cooperative learning cooperative learning Education theory A student-centered teaching strategy in which heterogeneous groups of students work to achieve a common academic goal–eg, completing a case study or a evaluating a QC problem. See Problem-based learning, Socratic method. experience through the inclusion of group gathering spaces throughout the research corridors and facilities shared between departments so as to encourage intra-departmental interaction. As the first academic building located outside of the established campus, the building anchors the future expansion area of the University and blends into the surrounding neighborhood. "It is a rare privilege to work with a faculty and administration so dedicated to the integration of its academic mission and its campus expansion. The New Science Building embodies the 21st central goal of humanizing science," stated Jan Keane, FAIA FAIA Florida Association of Insurance Agents FAIA Food Additives and Ingredients Association (Kent, UK) FAIA Fellow, American Institute of Architects (honorary position) with Mitche11/Giurgola, which served as design architect on this state-of-the-art facility. The New Science Building is the second Department of Public Works-constructed building at the University to be eligible for LEED[TM] certification. Utilizing green building strategies, the facility features energy conservation elements and passive solar control to maximize daylight and natural resources in the operation of the building. New Haven-based Fusco Corporation served as contractor, while The Morganti Group of Danbury served as construction administrator. |
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