NMHU Science Technology Building

At the most prominent corner of the New Mexico Highlands University campus, the same corner that is the gateway from historic Las Vegas to the University, sits the site of the Science Technology Building.   The intent of the building design was not only to create a safe and pleasing environment, but to attract more students to the sciences, encourage the integration of research and teaching, increase undergraduate research and allow more outreach to public school students and teachers.

One of the client’s desires was to have an “inside/out” open and inviting building.  This goal was accomplished by utilizing large amounts of glazing to bring natural light into this facility.  The building is organized along a central axis, which connects a primary first level entry (at street level) to a secondary plaza entry at level three.  A central stair aligns through all floors which allows students and faculty to literally traverse the site in a single pass, “climbing the hill.”  This device appeals to non-science students as they travel the campus, thereby exposing them to science. 

The building is terraced into a hill, placing isolated slab requirements for optics labs on grade, offices at the street front along the south side of the building and various technical laboratories and support spaces throughout.  The facility includes plenty of multilevel commons areas to address the university’s desire for spaces where students and staff are able to interact. 

Location: Las Vegas, NM   
Size: 72,154sf