Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex (SEC)

Setting a new paradigm for scholarship in the 21st century and beyond, Harvard’s Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) is designed to inspire learning and scientific discovery while showcasing sustainability.

The building’s adaptable, innovative environments support the school’s profound commitment to cutting-edge academic collaboration, create vibrant public spaces at a variety of scales, and set a distinctive architectural tone for the Allston campus.

The eight-level, 544,000-square-foot building is organized into three four-story volumes connected by two glazed, multi-story atria providing light-filled social hubs for faculty and students. The upper stories are clad in a façade whose layered design celebrates and calibrates the scale of the large volumes, that comprise the research activities, create an identity for the complex, and play a crucial role in the efficient energy performance of the building.

Classrooms, makerspaces, teaching labs, and amenity spaces occupy the floors closer to the street, where they highlight active learning. Classrooms and meeting spaces vary in size and layout. Wet and dry research labs are located in the upper volumes, where they provide researchers with more solitude and security. Modular, flexible laboratory environments, smart zoning of highly ventilated zones, and centralized lab services ensure the adaptability of the space. Generous lounges between the laboratory blocks provide connection points for students and faculty.

Sustainability and performance are high priorities for Harvard; the SEC has received LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certifications. Complementing energy-conscious HVAC and lighting systems and vegetated roof terraces, the façade balances technical and aesthetic goals. The world’s first hydroformed stainless-steel screen wraps the laboratory portion of the structure. It is precisely dimensioned to shield the interior from solar heat gain during warmer months while admitting beneficial sun during the winter, reducing cooling and heating loads. The screen alsoreflects daylight towards the interior while maintaining large view apertures.

Awards:
AIA New England Awards
Award for Design Excellence (2021)
AIA COTE® Top Ten Award (2023)

_{Photos by Brad Feinknopf}