Education

SLAM-designed Science Building at Clayton State University Set to Open

New Science Buidling at Clayton State University in Atlanta, GA

New Science Buidling at Clayton State University in Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, GA – The new Science Building at Clayton State University, a 58,610 square foot, $18 million project designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM) has reached final completion and will soon be set to open its doors to students and faculty in late August. The new Science Building is intended to provide Clayton State with additional space for required laboratory classes that every student must register for and pass in order to graduate from the University.

Additional lab and classroom space has been critical for the University’s Natural Sciences Department since the University grew from 4,675 students in 2001 to more than 7,200 students today. Thus far, University officials have been required to use waiting lists for lab courses due to the high demand from students and the low inventory of available lab classrooms. In 2011, Michelle Furlong, Chairwoman of Clayton State University’s Natural Sciences Department, along with other school officials said that the waiting lists were as deep as 100 students. The University has 11 labs currently, however, once the building is completed, Clayton State will have 19 instructional labs, nine research labs, two new 64-seat classrooms and two new 36-seat classrooms.The three story lab building is designed as a modern home for the sciences, featuring stacked biology and chemistry suites, which each integrate research, prep, and teaching labs.

Located on the edge of a small pond on the hills of the Clayton State University Campus, the new Science Building takes advantage of its natural setting, capturing morning daylight from across the water. In addition, a dramatic, swooping roof runs the full length of the building as an interpretation of the Clayton State University architectural style. Prominent glazed areas of the public spaces of the building allow daylight into the building. Sustainable initiatives include sun shading, daylight harvesting, and use of recycled materials and rain water.