New Chemistry Building Provides Window into 21st Century Research

Architect’s rendering of the new Chemistry Building. Courtesy of BHDP + Flad Architects.

As Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty and students make research headlines around the world, work on a new state-of-the-art chemistry building at Ohio University is moving forward.

Teaching and research needs have changed dramatically since chemistry classrooms and labs located to Clippinger Laboratories, which opened in 1965 with the moniker as the “new Science and Engineering Campus.”

Now chemistry researchers are racing the world’s first nanocar (a precursor to quantum mechanical engineering), developing nanosensors for heart health, revolutionizing drug discovery with RNA, and engineering silica nanoparticles, to name just a few areas of exploration that could have significant impact on future developments in healthcare and technology.

“The architects, planners, staff and faculty have all been involved in the collaborative discussions to develop an exciting new facility for chemistry. We are excited for the proposed project as it will complement the core strengths of the department and enable us to achieve our full potential for the 21^st century,” said Dr. Stephen C. Bergmeier, Professor and Chair of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

The new building is projected to open in the summer of 2020 and is considered phase 1 of the Clippinger renovation project. Phases 2 and 3 will follow in Clippinger as space is available to shift labs, offices, and classroom into the new building. The project is estimated to cost $42.6 million.

North elevation view of new chemistry building. Courtesy of BHDP + Flad Architects.

From the Basement to Open Space

The new 69,000-square-foot building, to be built to the north of Clippinger Laboratories, includes moving undergraduate instructional laboratories from the basement of Clippinger to window-lined space on the first floor of the new facility. The instructional labs will open to light-filled student collaboration spaces, an environment designed to support student and faculty collaboration by providing a variety of work areas in different settings.

The first floor also will include a Research Instrument Facility and will put research results on display next to the undergraduate student labs.

The second and third floors will feature research laboratories and faculty and graduate student offices, along with collaboration and conference rooms that overlook the South Green and Emeriti Park.

The building is carefully situated between the existing building and preserves the nearby old growth sycamore trees.