Elizabethtown College, Masters Center for Science, Mathematics and Engineering

Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

Firm

Marshall Craft Associates, Inc.

Client

Elizabethtown College

Area

118,821 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$21,500,000

Completion Date

08/2008

Elizabethtown College’s Masters Center for Science, Mathematics and Engineering extends learning beyond classrooms and labs into common areas designed to encourage student and faculty interaction. These areas celebrate the convergence of the sciences with displays and galleries honoring the facility’s seven departments.

The Masters Mineral Gallery has museum-quality display cases and lighting to house a world-class collection, and to expose students and the public to mineral-related sciences. An aquarium mounted in the neighboring atrium wall is an active lab that backs to the biology department. A wall of limestone surrounds the aquarium, bridging disciplines by showcasing fossils of ancient water creatures.

Each department contributed iconic images for a graphic collage in the two-story atrium. A video lounge features eight screens connected to the campus network, enabling a variety of information to be displayed. Seating groups throughout the common space encourage impromptu gatherings.

This infill addition unifies three multi-level buildings into a single, multidisciplinary science center. The common area eliminates barriers and improves visibility to create an exciting space for collaboration among scientific minds.