Lorain County Community College

New Laboratory Sciences Building

Elyria, Ohio

Completion Date
2013

Size
51,000 gsf

Services
Programming
Lab Planning
Architecture
Construction Administration

Role
Ellenzweig
Design Architect and Laboratory Planner

Weber Murphy Fox
Architect of Record

Certifications
LEED Silver Certified

Ellenzweig provided programming, laboratory planning, design, and construction administration services for this new laboratory building housing teaching labs for the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The program includes teaching labs for Biology, one combined teaching and research Biotechnology lab, flexible Chemistry teaching labs—where all plumbing services are located in fume hoods at the perimeter—and flexible studio-style Physics and Geology labs. Anatomy and Physiology labs were designed for maximum safety with customized downdraft teaching stations, while maintaining good sight lines for lab/lecture teaching. All labs are equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology complementing hands-on and inquiry-based instruction.

The program also includes lab support spaces for each discipline, including a greenhouse, as well as break-out, indoor, and outdoor public spaces. The building is connected to the neighboring Health Sciences and Physical Sciences buildings where faculty and administrative spaces remain.

In keeping with contextual materials of the campus, the building is clad in brick and copper shingles, which will weather over time to complement the architectural language of the original buildings.