When complete, the new 70,000-square-foot science building will house the departments of biology, chemistry and environmental engineering and earth sciences, and also will be home to the new Institute for Energy and Environmental Research of Northeast Pennsylvania. Large portions of the building exterior will be covered with a green wall.

Structural Construction

The new construction is a four story steel-framed building that is adjacent to the existing science building. The proposed usage of the building required that sections of the structure be designed to minimize vibration. To eliminate the snow drift on the existing roof created by the new building a low roof was designed to cantilever off of the new structure. Lateral support for the building is provided sby moment resisting steel frames.