Wellesley College was founded in 1870 as a private liberal arts college for women. Notable alumni include Madeleine Albright, Diane Sawyer, Nora Ephron, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Their latest project is a new science building designed to encourage interaction with nature. Wellesley describes it as the creation of an “inviting, sustainable hub of integrated, flexible instruction and research”. The college expects to position itself as the leader in STEM education for women.
Capco Steel Erection Co. will be providing miscellaneous and ornamental metals for the project. The scope of work includes numerous stairs and railings, including a large monumental stair and many areas of cable rail. Baker Steel Detailing is supplying shop drawings for an extensive item list.
In keeping with the College’s commitment to supporting women and diversity, Wellesley has goals in place for the participation of women, minorities and veterans.
Elements of the project include a new Horticulture and Ecology Lab, Kitchen Lab, teaching greenhouses, and an Experimental Garden. The new construction will support a hands-on curriculum that lets students learn nutrition by growing, harvesting and eating the results of their experiments.
Global Flora’s design integrates a curved building—one that follows the path of the sun—into the “village of sciences” that is envisioned for Science Hill, which will be anchored by the new Science Center and the existing Whitin Observatory. It will feature a series of indoor landscapes arranged in wet and dry biomes designed to replicate the physical conditions—soil components, temperature, light, and humidity—that sustain vegetation in its natural habitat. In the fall of 2017, the Global Flora project won a prestigious LafargeHolcim design award in the most significant global competition for sustainable design.
Steel fabricator: Capco Steel Erection Co
General Contractor: Turner Construction Co
Follow along with project updates here:
https://www.wellesley.edu/academics/sciences/center
Live video from Sage Hall:
http://web.wellesley.edu/video/sci.html
