Binghamton University Science IV Renovation Earns AIA CNY Award of Excellence
On November 12, 2022, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central New York Chapter held their annual Celebration of Architecture Design Awards. The Science IV renovation at Binghamton University was recognized with an Award of Excellence, the design awards highest honor. The purpose of the design awards program is to celebrate achievements in design excellence by architects in the Central New York Region and to honor the architects, clients and consultants who work together to create and enhance our built environment.
The awards jury said: “Beautiful facade, creates great places for people to hangout and gather, excellent rework of an existing building honoring and integrating the structure, moved by the facade renovation.”
The first building that visitors encounter when entering the Binghamton University campus was a tired, partially vacant 1970’s structure known as Science IV. The masonry façade was failing, the interiors were dated and nonfunctional, and campus noted that the architecture gave a foreboding first impression to visitors. Binghamton University, in conjunction with the State University Construction Fund (SUCF), commissioned Ashley McGraw Architects to re-envision the building as a new campus icon that welcomes visitors to the campus and sciences complex, in a modern, cohesive and energy efficient way.
The building had previously been introverted, with no defined entrance and little reason for people to interact with it unless they had business there. Now, with dynamic cladding, large expanses of glazing, and two new grand entrances, the entire campus community is invited inside. Students and faculty cross paths more regularly while taking advantage of the numerous new study, lounge, and collaborative spaces throughout. The university is excited to see students using these new spaces all day to study and work on group projects.
Window walls were installed in many of the labs to create a feeling of transparency and openness and to give passersby an idea of what is going on inside. By renovating the interiors of these facilities to make vibrant new academic environments and transforming the building envelopes and mechanical systems to significantly reduce operating costs, the revitalized mid-century Science IV building can play a positive role in campus life for decades to come.
