Highly Efficient Façades with Innovative Shading and Light Control

The Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) is the largest and most technologically advanced building at Harvard University. The complex is situated at the Allston Campus and extends nearly 500 ft. along the Western Avenue in Boston. The building accommodates various fields of engineering sciences on a floor space of around 544,000 sq. ft. It comprises a variety of state-of-the-art labs, training, and seminar rooms that will foster meeting various intended purposes.

Behnisch Architekten (the architect of record) designed the building. Together with knippershelbig GmbH (the facade engineer), they developed unique concepts for different facade types in the project’s early phase. During the Design Assist Phase, the two collaborated with Turner Construction (the contracts manager) and Josef Gartner (the facade specialist) in creating and refining the individual facade types to cover the elevations of the complex. It was the smooth cross-border communication between these parties, characterized by a strong German-American component, that made it possible to realize numerous new technical advancements in construction. This cooperation resulted in the design of the unique and different facade systems that clad different elevations around the structure with a touch of elegance and efficiency.

The eight-floor building is divided into three portions arranged around two light-flooded atriums. Highly transparent glass ribbon windows in the base open the building up to the outside environment. Deep overhangs combined with perforated metal light shelves shade these areas and direct daylight deep into the interior of the building. Above this transparent base, the four-story research boxes seem to virtually float, lending the building a special lightness. The laboratories are arranged in these research boxes, cladded with unique stainless-steel sheets for shading. The shades convey a uniform appearance, they also shield the rooms from solar heat in the warmer months, while allowing solar radiation in winter when the sun is lower, thus reducing the cooling and heating load.
Vertically, the six above-ground levels and the two below-ground levels are connected by a central atrium that provides all floors with daylight and fresh air. This atrium is the center of social and interdisciplinary interactions that also serves as events venue. There are other smaller atriums in individual areas of the building that serve the same functions. In addition, lounge zones that open up over several floors connect the individual laboratory areas with each other and serve as meeting spaces and lounging areas. The atriums and lounge zones in the complex bring the different sections of the building together helping it to meet its social functionality.

Almost all rooms with workstations are oriented towards the facade which allows people to interact with the outside when working in the inside. All offices and meeting rooms have operable windows that allow fresh air to cascade deep into the building. These windows also allow the occupants to interact with the external environment. Different unique facade that covers various faces of the building gives it a unique look and also promotes the building’s environmental sustainability function. The design and implementation of highly efficient facades with innovative shading and light control at Harvard University’s newly developed complex, introduces the construction world to advanced methods in controlling and shading light in buildings while ensuring environmental sustainability and functional effectiveness.

Behnisch Architekten, Boston MA

knippershelbig GmbH, Stuttgart Germany

Josef Gartner USA, a division of Permasteelisa North America, Chicago IL

Josef Gartner GmbH, Gundelfingen Germany

Edelstahlmechanik GmbH, Goeppingen Germany

The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Cambridge MA | Harvard Capital Projects

Turner Construction Company, Boston MA