Bates College Project in the News

Construction of the new 54,000 GSF Science Building at Bates College will begin in 2019. The state-of-the-art building will drive the evolution of science education at Bates, embracing the advanced technologies and interdisciplinary collaborations that characterize bioscience research and teaching.

As stated in Bates College News, the programs and faculty destined for the new building at 45 Campus Avenue will inhabit a three-story structure of about 54,000 GSF, housing research and teaching labs, the vivarium, classrooms, thesis workrooms, and spaces for study and interaction. On the first floor, near the entrance, is a come-one, come-all casual space that’s been dubbed a “science living room.”

Students in any discipline will be welcome at 45 Campus Avenue. On the first floor, near the main entrance, is the building’s living room, a come-one, come-all casual space.

PAYETTE Principal-in-Charge Bob Schaeffner explains, “The idea is that anyone on this side of campus would find it attractive to go there to study. Even the circulation system within the building will support community, with a grand staircase and single-corridor floor plan keeping occupants in a common traffic stream.”

In its design and siting, the building will catch the eye from key campus perspectives and will harmonize traditional Bates aesthetics with a striking contemporary appeal. At the northwest corner of the building, facing the Historic Quad, is a signature expanse of glass, behind which students can enjoy a two-story lounge with variety of study spaces. At night, this will create a welcoming “beacon” along the fast-developing south border of the Bates campus.

Read the article.