University of Mississippi

Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation

Oxford, Mississippi

Size
204,000 gsf

Services
Programming
Lab Planning
Architecture

Roles
Ellenzweig
Design Architect and Lab Planner

McCarty Architects
Architect of Record

The largest academic building in the history of the University of Mississippi’s main campus, the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation brings together science and engineering to enhance STEM learning and foster interdisciplinary programs on campus.

The student-centric facility, located in the heart of the Science District, accommodates over 2,000 students every hour throughout the day with more than 50 labs and TEAL classrooms that are flexibly designed for team-based interactive learning. The building also features a dedicated success center for one-on-one tutoring and study sessions, lecture halls, study rooms, food service, more than 60 faculty offices, and a 3D visualization lab.

The high-performance building is projected to be 70% carbon neutral relative to similar buildings nationally. It integrates such features as terracotta window-shading louvers at the south façade, sensor technology that monitors laboratory air quality, 36 filtering fume hoods, and energy recovery in both the heating and cooling systems, all contributing to this lab building’s significant energy use reduction.

Lab, classrooms, lecture halls, and study spaces overlook the four-story, daylit atrium that serves as a social hub.

The new STEM building provides contemporary teaching facilities for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer and Information Science Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geology and Geological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biomedical engineering.

Ample study space throughout the building and a centralized tutoring and study center on the second floor celebrates academic support activities.