UMBC’s new 130,000 GSF Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building (ILSB) will provide 70,000 NASF of flexible and adaptable research and education spaces to support on-going and future interdisciplinary life science programs.
The ILSB will seamlessly connect teaching and research activities to enhance and further stimulate collaborative approaches to advancing the State’s biotechnology industry and increasing the number of STEM graduates.
The building is located in the center of campus, replacing the one-story Academic Services Building, adjacent to the Commons. Tenants in the existing building will be relocated to other existing buildings prior to scheduled demolishing in the Spring of 2017. The ILSB is scheduled to be completed by the Summer of 2019.
The ILSB will allow for:
- enhancement and expansion of life sciences programs and teaching facilities, addressing shortages in teaching and research space;
- relocation of core research functions from existing deficient spaces in academic buildings such as the Biological Sciences Building and Sondheim Hall; and,
- encourage the retention and recruitment of top quality students and faculty.
The Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building will support course redesign with dynamic high-technology classrooms, seminar rooms and teaching labs.
- Active Learning Classrooms – Four 90 and four 48 seat classrooms.
- Teaching Labs – Four labs with prep and storage spaces.
- Seminar & Collaborative Project Rooms Four 24 seat seminar rooms. Six collaborative project rooms.
- A Good Manufacturing Processes Lab Training Facility
- Observation and Research Lab to study active learning classroom pedagogy and techniques
The Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building will support interdisciplinary research.
- Research Labs – Twelve shared labs each accommodating up to 3 Principal Investigators and 9 graduate student and staff research assistants.
- Environmental Systems Lab – A flexible, high-bay research space to support field research in aquatic and environmental ecosystems.
- Research Lab Support rooms like tissue culture procedure spaces, environmentally controlled spaces and imaging rooms.
- A BioProcess and Cell Science Facility – allowing the growth of cells, bacteria, fungi, yeast and algae to support research.
- Collaboration Areas for formal and informal interchanges and meetings.
The design of the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building includes modifications to the existing Commons Circle Plaza and Quad areas.
- The new plaza will become more pedestrian friendly and include multiple walkways, plantings and benches.
- The existing Commons Circle drop off area will be removed and a new drop off circle will be created around the pond just south of the Physics Building and parking lot 2.
- Deliveries to the Commons Building loading dock will be maintained through the Commons Circle Plaza. Only service and delivery vehicles will have access to the Commons Circle Plaza and Commons loading dock.
- The existing quad will receive additional pedestrian walkways and plantings.
