Designing learning environments on college campuses requires solutions that reflect an institution’s mission, adapt to evolving academic needs, and support a sustainable future for learning and research. Building on our work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing and the Wellesley College Science Complex, we’re bringing this approach to the design of a new state-of-the-art science complex at Colby College.

The new complex will bring a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines together under one roof. Spanning approximately 200,000 square feet, the project will feature advanced teaching and research laboratories, classrooms, offices, fabrication labs, specialized equipment and computing infrastructure, and dynamic gathering spaces. 

“It is rare to find a completely new interdisciplinary science facility—it’s far more common to see renovations, additions, or specialized research centers,” said Partner Colin Koop. “What makes this project compelling is that it brings a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines, all under one roof. It will push us to bring our very best design thinking, and achieving the right outcome will demand extensive dialogue, continual refinement, and lots of iterations.”

We’re excited to collaborate with the Colby College community to design a complex that elevates the role of science on a liberal arts campus and cultivates the next generation of scientific leaders.