New Academic Building

Humanizing the University Lab Experience

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is one of the top undergraduate engineering schools in the nation. With a track record of innovation inside and out of the classroom, the institution strives to create an environment of individual support. In an era when student burnout is prevalent and rising, Rose-Hulman is putting student wellness first.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the New Academic Building — a three-story lab, classroom, and flexible workshop experience which is conducive to human comfort as well as hard science. With support from campus leadership, our design team pursued the highest standards of building wellness through all aspects of the design, as defined by the WELL Building Standards certification.

Sustainability and student-appeal starts outside with landscape design considerations, like bioswales for water runoff and exterior task lighting — and extends to every inviting furniture choice and fractal-inspired fabric pattern. Interior spaces include innovative solutions for daylight: even within the labs, unprogrammed “relief” spaces with soft seating and sound suppression to combat lab fatigue, an “irresistible stair” to dissuade elevator use, and an interactive custom art installation which reinforces Circadian rhythms and responds to the levels of activity in the building with appropriate light levels and hues.

Rose-Hulman is shifting the design paradigm for scientific facilities, and the world of higher education is taking note. In 2022, Rose-Hulman received the #1 ranking for its science lab facilities as selected by The Princeton Review, and the New Academic Building became the first WELL certified higher education facility in the state of Indiana.

New Quad

With its careful siting and intentional landscape design choices, the New Academic Building has created an entirely new academic quad on the Rose-Hulman campus.

Connecting in the Courtyard

Students will gather in the central courtyard — a soft and quiet contrast to the adjacent industrial makerspace.

Daylight + Views to Nature

Daylight is brought into every habitable space, including active learning classrooms, labs, makerspaces, and social areas.

Choice + Flexibility

The first floor features flexible workshop studios, 3D prototype labs, and industrial maker spaces.

Active Learning Classrooms

On the second floor, classrooms are designed to encourage collaboration and teamwork.

Non-scheduled data analysis classrooms and open study areas provide a restorative break from the lab. Soft seating and sound suppression helps combat fatigue and allow for individual or collaborative work.

Biophilic Design

Nature is celebrated throughout the building, from plants and furniture choices to fractal-inspired fabrics and wallcoverings.

Art Installation

Project One Studio created “Depth of Field,” an art installation located in the atrium which can be viewed from all three levels. An ever-changing ambient lighting technique reflects the passage of time and changing seasons, as well as activity and occupancy of the space. The work aims to promote interactions, creativity, and a healthy learning environment.

Irresistible Stair

A striking staircase connects the vertical core of the building and provides a birds-eye view of the busy interior. It creates a great reason for extra steps and encourages fitness.