KENYON COLLEGE QUAD LAB
Gambier, Ohio
CHALLENGE
To modernize historic science buildings with cutting-edge labs while preserving their classic character, creating spaces where students can engage in hands-on research that prepares them for scientific careers.
SOLUTION
Our design approach embraced the tension between preservation and innovation, treating it as a creative opportunity rather than a constraint. Working within the 1926 Samuel Mather Science Hall, our team developed a sensitive intervention strategy that maintains the building's historic envelope and character-defining features while completely reimagining its interior functionality.
The renovated laboratories incorporate flexible infrastructure systems that support evolving research needs without compromising the building's structural integrity. Adaptive reuse strategies transform formerly rigid spaces into fluid environments where collaborative research and traditional instruction can coexist and cross-pollinate. Custom laboratory casework, designed in collaboration with local fabricators, provides modern functionality while referencing historical design elements — creating visual continuity between past and present while generating significant cost savings.
Throughout the renovation, our team prioritized transparency and connectivity, introducing strategic interior glazing that maintains the building's historic rhythm while creating visual connections between different research activities. This approach supports Kenyon's educational philosophy that learning happens through observation and interaction as well as direct instruction. Careful integration of mechanical systems preserves historic ceiling heights while providing the advanced ventilation and environmental controls necessary for contemporary scientific research.
IMPACT
The transformed Science Quad has catalyzed a renaissance in Kenyon's scientific community, attracting accomplished faculty and promising students to its programs. The renovated facilities have directly contributed to significant research achievements, including supporting work that earned the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award.
By creating research environments that honor both scientific tradition and innovation, the renovation embodies Kenyon's distinctive approach to science education within a liberal arts context. Students now experience a learning environment where historical continuity and cutting-edge discovery coexist, reinforcing the understanding that scientific advancement builds upon accumulated knowledge while constantly questioning and extending it.
