New Chemistry Building

Norfolk, Virginia

Firm

Moseley Architects

Client

Old Dominion University

Area

112,227 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$58,647,038

Completion Date

05/2021

Maylone Photography

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Moseley Architects, in collaboration with SmithGroup, partnered with Old Dominion University to design a science building in accordance with the university’s master plan. Designed to replace the Alfriend Chemistry Building, the new facility has laboratories, faculty offices, and departmental administrative and technical support areas. These include undergraduate teaching laboratories, undergraduate and graduate research laboratories, and shared research laboratory support facilities for the departments of chemistry & biochemistry.

Reflecting the science departments housed within, the facility has several standout features. Thoughtfully curated details such as exterior brickwork pay homage to the periodic table of elements. Interior wall coverings display chemistry motifs, and a custom LED wall panel at the facility’s planetarium entrance mimics the light of specific stars. In addition to these creatively relevant features, the facility was carefully designed to foster academic excellence. This was achieved by including a planetarium, breakout study spaces, full-height sliding glass marker boards, whiteboards, and collaborative workspaces furnished with flexible, branded fixtures. Study and collaborative spaces are also complemented by the extensive use of glass to enhance natural light, visibility, and transparency, thereby promoting Old Dominion’s “STEM on display” initiative.

Additional Information

Associated Firm

SmithGroup; Ann P. Stokes; Bowen Technovation; GET Solutions; Facility Dynamics; Forella Group; JSJ Design Group; Lynch Mykins; NV5 Engineering & Technology; Stone Wall Hill Partners; Vanasse Hangen Brustlin; W.M. Jordan Company