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245 Beacon Street

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

245 Beacon Street is a five-story, 150,000 square foot facility. The building is dedicated to interdisciplinary science and liberal arts programs and houses the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society. Three floors are dedicated to teaching, and an additional two levels are reserved for cutting-edge research with core laboratories and a cleanroom. The structure has been designed to promote engagement and interaction, as general-purpose classrooms are adjacent to engineering teaching labs, computer science facilities, and social gathering spots. Maker spaces and the Shea Center for Entrepreneurship are placed strategically at prominent public locations to welcome all students and staff. Furthermore, the building offers amenities, including a welcoming café, auditorium, and collaboration areas, all connected via an inviting open staircase. With a gabled roof and granite façade, the building is configured in the historic collegiate gothic style of the Boston College campus and includes a high-performance structural steel frame to limit vibrations for sensitive research activities. A three-story steel Vierendeel truss over the loading dock allows the 52-foot by 40-foot floor structure above to be constructed entirely of W12 beams, maximizing height and functional space within the loading dock.

Project Details

Year

2022

Architect

Payette

Owner

Boston College