Montgomery College Rockville Science Center

Located on Montgomery College's Rockville Campus, the Science Center provides engineering and science students with greater access to enhanced learning environments and 21st-century labs. The facility's 29 new laboratories include 14 biology labs, nine chemistry labs and six physics/engineering labs. There is also a greenhouse and a rooftop observatory.

The façade features three main elements: glass curtain wall, brick, and aluminum composite rain screen. The ACM panels were designed with two alternating colors in a vertical orientation surrounding recessed curtain wall units with solid 0.125-inch thick aluminum recess jamb enclosures. There was very little room for error with this design.

Sustainability

A LEED Gold certified project, the Science Center's green features enhance the building's educational mission. Part of the architectural design includes eco-resin panels depicting elements of the solar system, hanging in the east entrance to the atrium, as well as a large ceiling fan that circulates air and accentuates the four-story ceiling. Outside, grass terraces serve as an outdoor classroom, and a dock provides students with direct contact to a pond or “living laboratory” for outdoor experimentation and data collection.

Other exterior features include native planting, extensive bicycle racks, a variety of seat walls, a green roof, and a greenhouse. In addition, the building includes high-efficiency chillers, solar panels, an underground cistern, and recycled construction materials.