Solano Community College, Science Building

Showcasing Science

The Solano Community College Science Building is recognized as the home for scientific learning on campus. Solano Community College’s mission is to educate a culturally and academically diverse student population. This building supports the mission and promotes success by fostering the passion of students, putting learning and science on display, providing opportunities for learning outside of the classroom, and providing spaces that promote student-to-student interaction throughout the day. A Veteran’s Center is integrated into the building to provide support services for veterans attending the college.

The project had two primary challenges. The first was to aesthetically fit on a campus with a very unique architectural language. Most of the existing campus buildings were constructed in the early 1970’s and marked by arched walls and cement tile mansard roofs. The design team studied the proportions of the existing buildings and developed a response that includes a feature wall of arches along the façade that faces into campus.

A second challenge was to show “learning on display” throughout the building. The design team infused this transparency from the “front door” Living Room / Student Commons on the corner to the courtyards within and along the corridors. The laboratories were designed in conjunction with faculty and staff and include four biology labs, a cadaver room, three chemistry labs, and geology and geography labs. The interiors of the laboratory spaces are designed not only to celebrate science, but also provide an engaging environment where learning is truly made visible.