Yale Science Building

The new Science Building strikes this exact balance by transforming the existing J.W. Gibbs Laboratory into a forward-thinking epicenter of scientific research. Yale teamed with architecture firms Pelli Clarke Pelli and Stantec to develop a hub for biologists, physicists, chemists, and students to come together under one roof. In turn, Acentech’s multi-disciplinary team of acoustics, audiovisual, and telecommunications consultants were selected by the architects to assist in the design of this 7-story, 277,550 SF facility.

Yale’s Science Building showcases a 500-seat lecture hall, aquatics and insect labs, quantitative biology center, imaging suites, and a rooftop greenhouse. The lecture hall features sophisticated audiovisual systems, including videoconferencing capabilities and support for cinema presentations with surround sound and numerous meeting and collaboration spaces for building users. Smaller student gathering spaces are now peppered between professors’ private offices to nudge both parties to interact with one another in a more natural manner. Yet, such a novel design approach can come at a cost: without sound isolation between offices and chatting students, focus and concentration can suffer. Highly absorptive finishes, wall construction, and even mechanical system noise control developed by Acentech keeps the crux of this building’s purpose—to better collaborate across disciplines—intact.

When looking to develop a multi-disciplined, state-of-the-art facility, systems that might otherwise seem unrelated or inconsequential can spell big trouble for sensitive laboratory equipment. For instance, the buzzing of a video projector may seem like a minor issue, but when it is operating below an electron microscope, researchers may not be able to make any measurements if this AV tool is not installed properly. Acentech’s collective, holistic approach to acoustics, AV, telecommunications, and security systems ensures the elimination of any interference with delicate equipment.