The airy, daylit interior of the four-story, 60,000-square-foot (5,600-square-meter) building provides a fertile matrix for interactive learning about science — in the curriculum and in the building.

Designed by VCBO Architecture, it's clearly a building built for its users, with actively used small-group study areas connected to an exciting central atrium, surrounded by a diverse array of controlled-environment teaching laboratories, classrooms, offices, and service space.

The facades are modulated according to the solar and thermal constraints of each cardinal direction in the building's high-altitude semi-arid climate. Inside, two mirror-polished metal cylinders bracket the atrium space as sculptural objects, while functioning to distribute 100-percent fresh supply air from the intake heat-exchanger and conditioning system.

Light and Energy

The Meldrum Science Center relies extensively on daylight — an abundant resource in Utah — to maintain adequate light levels in occupied spaces while minimizing reliance on electric lighting.

Thus, three-quarters of regularly occupied spaces have access to daylight, while according to the architects over 90 percent of occupants have views to the outdoors.   >>>