Accedi
Utenti registrati
Barnard envisioned a future-ready academic science facility that could meet the demands of expanding programs, while fostering community and inclusion. The concept emerged from a desire to reimagine Altschul Hall—updating it for flexible, interdisciplinary research and adding a new vertical volume to house faculty and meeting spaces. This move allowed core lab areas to be optimized while creating visible, connected, and accessible spaces that integrate campus and community life.
Votazioni chiuse
The RDSC opens previously closed edges of campus to the neighborhood, creating transparency between Barnard and the city. A new glazed façade invites the public to engage with science, while a bioclimatic entry connects Broadway to the campus core. The project bridges four key campus buildings and mediates existing grade changes, improving circulation and reinforcing Barnard’s identity as an inclusive, urban institution rooted in intellectual and civic exchange.
The RDSC will be NYC’s first all-electric, zero operational carbon-ready academic science building. All systems are designed to comply with Local Law 97 and support a fossil fuel–free future. High-performance glazing, energy-efficient systems, and bioclimatic design reduce demand while enhancing comfort. Sustainability is central to the architecture—supporting Barnard’s Climate Action Vision and offering a model of responsible design for dense urban academic campuses.
The RDSC transforms a 1968 science building into a bold center for 21st-century learning. A new 14-story addition houses faculty and community spaces, freeing the core of the original Altschul Hall for adaptable, tech-enabled laboratories and classrooms. Designed around the metaphor of light, the building emphasizes openness, transparency, and discovery—breaking down physical and academic barriers. Inside, the “Science Commons” becomes a shared home for science at Barnard, welcoming students, faculty, and community members alike. The building also connects four campus buildings, improving wayfinding and creating a unified academic precinct. Its most defining feature, however, is its commitment to sustainability: this will be New York’s first zero operational carbon-ready academic science building. Every design decision—from systems and materials to spatial strategy—was rooted in Barnard’s mission to advance equity, access, and excellence in STEM.
This project reflects Barnards deepest values—academic excellence, environmental leadership, and equity. The RDSC will serve generations of students, fostering innovation and collaboration while making science accessible to all.
We're committed to Living Design, an approach that integrates environmental, social, and design considerations to advance ecological health and well-being. Interior Design named Perkins&Will a “Sustainability Giant” in 2024; Architizer named us the world’s “Best Sustainable Firm” in 2023, and Metropolis named us “Firm of the Year” in 2022 for our industry leadership in advancing climate action and social justice. Fast Company named us one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture three times, and in 2021, it added Perkins&Will to its list of Brands That Matter—making us the first architecture practice in the world to earn the distinction.
With an international team of more than 2,400 professionals, we have over 30 studios worldwide, providing integrated services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Our partners include Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects; Portland; Nelson\Nygaard; and Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR).
