University of Delaware, Newark

Prior to designing this facility on the main campus, Ayers/Saint/Gross prepared a detailed study of existing and expected space needs; a master plan for renovating the buildings occupied by the chemistry and biochemistry departments; and a comparison of three program variations on five sites.

The new building has 20 labs for synthetic, organic, and inorganic chemistry; physical and analytical instrumentation; lasers, biochemistry; and the marine sciences. The 36 offices on three levels overlook a courtyard created by the building's placement. Special and support services include:

• Radiochemistry
• X-ray diffusion
• Trace element clean rooms
• Wet chemical preparation
• Instrument rooms
• Computer lab
• Cold rooms
• Hazardous materials storage
• Faculty and graduate offices
• Glass blowing
• Machine shop

A small library/conference room is on the second level, and chalkboards and benches are at each coffee and vending station to encourage student and faculty interaction in a relaxed setting.

Completion: 1993
Size: 65,000 gsf
Cost: $16.5 million
Award: Baltimore Chapter AIA Merit Award, 1994