Saint Francis University | Natural Sciences Building
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Loretto, PA
CFB’s design team is working on the new Natural Sciences Building at St. Francis University. The 70,000 SF facility will house biology, chemistry, physics, environmental engineering, mathematics, and computer science laboratories and classrooms along with student-faculty research areas, 45 faculty offices, conference rooms, and other specialized rooms like the marine aquatics lab.
Located on the eastern side of the campus mall, the building is made up of a laboratory wing which is parallel to Franciscan Way and an office wing which is slightly canted to be on-axis with St. Francis Drive, the road that leads into town. Wedged between these rectilinear forms is the central hub of the building, articulated on the exterior by a glass entry pavilion and on interior by a colorful accent wall. A 3-story atrium further defines the building’s center, about which several student zones are organized. Sustainable design strategies will include photovoltaic panels and a windmill, both which will display their performance on interactive touch screens inside the building.
Construction is scheduled to begin in January of 2012 and the building will be open to students in August of 2013.
