Tennessee Tech University Laboratory Science Commons

Project Statement

In alignment with the Tennessee Tech University Campus Master Plan and aimed at bolstering campus recruitment efforts, the Laboratory Science Commons stands as the centerpiece of a newly envisioned quadrangle.

At the heart of the structure lies a central Study Commons, leading to a spacious colonnade and plaza that serves as the focal point, overlooking the quadrangle. On the ground floor, a portrait gallery within the atria pays homage to trailblazing scientists, while expansive murals filled with inspirational quotes from these pioneers adorn the Study Commons walls. Throughout the building, glass marker walls encourage collaborative study groups and offer the potential for scientific equations to become dynamic elements of the building’s décor.

A key element of the design of the interior of the building is to create “science on display.” This is accomplished by maximizing the transparency and views from the circulation spaces to engage the passerby with laboratory activities. In addition to inspirational artwork, including one-of-a-kind commissioned mosaics and glass marker walls are located throughout the building with the intent of enhancing the workspace for study groups and allowing opportunities for out of class instruction thus creating the potential for scientific equations to adorn the walls of the building as living art. In turn, each commissioned art piece throughout the interior and exterior of the space represents elements science so the building itself can be used as a teaching tool.

Framework for Design Excellence Narrative

Integration
- The initial project name, Interdisciplinary Laboratory Science Building, reflects the university’s intent for integration. The collaborative design process began with programming and extended through design with a series of workshops with all interested faculty to create each teaching and research lab cluster.
- While the project scope was to design a laboratory science building, the master plan vision was fulfilled with the creation of the science quadrangle. The quadrangle is flanked on the north and south by major campus walkways that lead to and through the dual atrium spaces within the building. Operating as enclosed breezeways, the atriums provide an art-filled destination as well as a pedestrian connection to the campus’ future development.
- The teaching labs create the core of the building with research labs and faculty offices at each wing. Student collaboration spaces are interspersed at end towers and building connections promoting student-student and student-faculty interaction. Likewise, the layout of labs is intended to promote faculty collaboration.

Well-Being
- A keynote aspect of the campus master plan, and therefore the university mission, is the transformative greening of the campus. The intent is to transform a campus filled with a sea of asphalt parking lots, vacated on the weekends, into a pedestrian oriented green scape that maintains and encourages student activity throughout the week. The Laboratory Science Commons makes tremendous strides toward this mission.
- Other outdoor features include a grand terrace, a classroom, study and dining terraces and the creation of a bioswale for use as a living laboratory for the biology curriculum.

Discovery
- A biology-based sculpture is suspended in the north atrium. Theme: The tree of life evolving from a root structure to a DNA model. The reflective glass components in the center of the sculpture represent individual proteins.
- A suspended sculpture representing chemistry themes fills the upper portion of south atrium. Theme: A spiral periodic table with attendant atoms. Each atom is afixed from its corresponding element on the spiral.
- On the ground floor, a portrait gallery within the atria pays homage to trailblazing scientists, while expansive murals filled with inspirational quotes from these pioneers adorn the Study Commons walls. Each small quote is separated by a water molecule graphic. Multiple faculty members were involved with the concepts. Special attention was made to not only represent a variety of scientific disciplines, but a diverse representation of scientists in the field.
- Each space also includes six glass mosaic art pieces representing disciplines within the building. Each represent the disciplines within the building with iconic images. The groupings have a thematic tie per wall and, as a whole, represent the research/study/disciplines within the building.

Each art feature throughout the commons is meant to be used as a teaching tool, representing scientific concepts and the history of influential scientists.