The Lawrenceville School, F.M. Kirby Science Center

Lawrenceville, New Jersey

Firm

Hillier

Client

The Lawrenceville School

Area

56,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$12,000,000

Completion Date

04/1998

The site is at the campus hub flanking one of the three major green space, opposite the library and adjacent to the math/computer science building. The new two-story building is divided equally among the biology, physics and chemistry departments with an additional 6,000 square feet devoted to the math department.
The goals of the project were to provide modern classrooms and lab facilities, alleviate overcrowding, improve life-safety features, and integrate audiovisual and other educational technologies where appropriate. In addition, there was a desire to foster interaction among the students and faculty outside the classroom.
Classrooms where a lecture format is utilized are accessed from the main corridor and are directly adjacent to the labs. Borrowed natural light through the labs reaches the classrooms via windows that separate the two spaces. The classroom/labs allow lecture and some hands-on lab work to be done within the same space. The student breakout area on the first floor acts as a meeting place for students and faculty, and is equipped with soft seating, table, benches and blackboards.

Photographer: ©Jeff Goldberg/Esto