Science & Advanced Technologies Building

The new Science & Advanced Technologies Building turns the spotlight on the College of Lake County’s STEM programs. It brings more lab, teaching, prep, and storage space for both the Biological and Health Sciences division and the Engineering, Math and Physical Sciences division.

Students within the 42,000-square-foot facility use everything from efficient fume hoods to multispectral lasers and robotic equipment to pursue careers in the traditional sciences, laser operations, manufacturing, mechanical and electronics engineering, and much more.

The facility, certified LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council, features technologies that reduce annual energy consumption by 66% compared to a baseline building of similar size. Among its sustainable components are photovoltaic panels, green roofs, a geothermal heating and cooling system, a rainwater recovery system, LED lighting, a daylight harvesting system, and energy-efficient fume hoods. Within the labs, raised and sloped ceilings maximize the light coming in from the 10-foot-tall window systems along the south wall.

On the exterior, tri-colored metal panels mimic the three brick tones of existing campus buildings. Additionally, a brick feature wall uses three colors in six patterns to reflect other campus facilities. The brick wall starts outside the entry and runs the length of the two-story atrium, which connects the addition to the campus and creates the new south entry. The atrium offers living room-like alcoves for students to gather, as well as linear skylights that fill the space with natural light.