Sierra College Science Building

This multi-disciplinary science building showcases museum exhibits, a planetarium, and a variety of learning environments supported by informal student and faculty collaboration spaces. Designed to enhance the existing Natural History Museum and nurture student- professor relationships, the new facility supports the college’s goals of fostering environmental awareness, promoting diversity in education, and enhancing the cultural needs of the local community.

The new science building represents an additional gateway for K-12 students throughout the district who visit the natural history museum exhibits to showcase the science programs being offered with learning on display to inspire the next generation of students at Sierra College.

This project had a unique community input, which is reflected in how it will be used. The museum component broadened the community to the public, K-12 students beyond engagement of the campus students, faculty, and staff.

The overriding goal was to create an inclusive project and enhance the feel of the campus to welcome and encourage all students to stay on the site. The project provides a variety of scales of space and levels of public to private through both the landscape and the building interiors.