Campus Architecture Database: Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences

St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.

Building Type: Science

Construction Type: New

Cost: $63-million

Square Footage: 200,000

Architect: Holabird & Root; Weidt Group

Contractor: Oscar J. Boldt Construction

Opened: 2008

This building was designed to encourage interaction among the science disciplines by mixing formal and informal gathering spaces, study spaces, and offices. Classrooms, labs, and offices are arranged according to purpose instead of departmental affiliation, meaning that many of the teaching and research spaces can be shared among fields. The design incorporates specialized spaces for anatomy/neuro-anatomy and animal facilities, as well as laboratories for optics, computational physics, physiology, genetics, microbiology/immunology, synthetic and analytical chemistry, and biochemistry. The building also has an atrium with views out in three directions, a greenhouse, an accessible green roof, a science library, and a second-floor café. It received a LEED platinum rating.

(Photos: Tom Roster)

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