The DNA of a Modern Science Building: Balancing Energy Use at the Nucleus

Overcoming Outdated Infrastructure

Science education has evolved greatly in 40 years. The student-to-teacher ratio has contracted while lab usage has increased. Safety requirements for ventilation and water treatment have become more stringent. Built in the mid-1980s, the existing W.M. Keck Science Center wasn’t meeting the needs of modern science protocols. However, the CJ+C team recognized that between outdated technology, restrictions from fire-rated walls, and insufficient space utilization, modernization alone wasn’t going to revive the facility.

“To add value to aging buildings, we have to bring them back to life. But this was a case where the amount of new infrastructure required wasn’t practical or cost effective to bring into the existing shell,” explains John Beck, senior associate and architect for CJ+C. “So we devised a two-part solution—retain the original building but dedicate it to teaching and office space and shift all laboratory needs to a new annex.”

An adjacent parking lot was co-opted for the laboratory expansion rather than use greenfield development. Since Pitzer and Scripps have adjoining campuses, this decision kept the shared facility in a central location. It also avoided demolishing an entire structure, which supported sustainability goals.

The new wing has 14 labs, including ones dedicated to environmental science, advanced physics, and neuroscience. To keep researchers safe while working with liquids and gases, fume hoods, constant ventilation, and specialized waste storage are required in the wet labs. A reverse osmosis and deionization system was also included for water purification.

“The primary reasons we removed the labs from the original building was it had fire-rated walls, limiting the potential for penetrations,” Beck said. “In the new annex, however, we complied with code by reducing classroom occupancy and using sprinklers. Since this design doesn’t require fire-rated corridors, we had the flexibility to run the appropriate HVAC and MEP for the labs.”

Taking A Page from History

Since the Scripps College campus is on the National Register of Historic Places, the expansion project needed to satisfy preservation requirements harkening back to 1926. Rather than see these as restrictions, the CJ+C team took inspiration from the past.

For starters, they were able to source the same iconic red clay roof tiles from the original manufacturer. Not only do these contribute to the continuity of the Spanish Colonial Revival campus, but they also soak up sunshine while radiating the stored heat at night. Traditional attic fans, which are low cost and low tech, help with ventilation during the cooling cycle.

“We looked for smart things to borrow,” explained Beck. “For example, the early buildings didn’t have A/C but offset that load with thermal mass, like concrete, thick masonry walls, and terrazzo floors. We opted for a polished concrete floor as a modern application, which absorbs the heat gain from the abundance of natural daylighting.”

Even the new building’s massing has the same floor-to-floor height as the original science center. The structures are physically connected by a two-story skyway, creating outdoor corridors flanked by patio seating.

“Rather than imitate historic architecture, we were purposeful about fitting the annex into its surrounding context,” Beck emphasizes. “Alumni are sensitive to the historic character of campus, so we were intentional about matching materiality. The exterior plaster color and limestone panels were chosen with great care.”

A Sustainable Future

Nucleus is seeking LEED BD+C Gold through sustainable strategies such as a high-performance envelope, operable windows, and heat recovery. While renewable energy wasn’t an option due to site constraints, the CJ+C team’s suggestion for the annex delivered its own environmental advantages. 

“Decarbonization has an easy first step—building less,” stresses Beck. “You can make your new construction footprint smaller by achieving higher utilization rates out of the space.”

Daylighting was also a priority. The combination of LEDs and occupancy sensors, required by California Title 24, lowers energy consumption. With lush landscaping and mature trees, researchers can enjoy plentiful views of the outdoors.

“We then reveal how the building works by exposing all of the infrastructure: ductwork, piping, and even cable trays,” added Beck. “This was all hidden behind ceilings in the old facility. By having more freedom to vary ceiling heights, we were able to meld the historic exterior with its modern interior.”