Union College
Schenectady, NY

The award-winning F.W. Olin Science Center was constructed on the most highly visible, active, and accessible building site remaining on the Union College Campus. The building has a diverse program and is utilized by every student at Union College during the course of their education. Schematically, the planning of the building follows the strong traditionalism of the existing buildings on the campus. Two symmetrical wings flank a central circular rotunda, which rises through the three above-grade floors of the building. Also included is a full basement beneath two-thirds of the footprint. Within the basement are the specialized "dirty" and "wet" labs for the Geology Department. The general laboratory space was designed to provide flexibility for diversified experimental research and teaching capabilities for chemistry and physics courses. Laboratories also include typical systems such as deionized water, vacuum, compressed air, fume hoods, and laminar flow hoods.