UMW Jepson Science Center Addition

Driven by program growth for the Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences and Physics departments, the University of Mary Washington commissioned SLAM and Commonwealth Architects to rehabilitate and expand Jepson Science Center to address insufficient research space and outdated instructional spaces. Built in 1999, the existing four-story, 75,000-SF building was set back from the University’s most prominent street (College Avenue), sloping down 15’ from street level and fronted by a parking lot, offering limited light into the interior.

Adding 40,000 SF to the existing building without creating a larger, rectangular mass proved to be one of the main architectural challenges. The south-facing glass entry connector addresses this, inviting in natural light. From the western elevation, the architectural response is respectful of the neighboring historic buildings, yet modern and open to allow for naturally-lit labs, putting science on display at night along College Avenue. A low-maintenance native meadow replaces the former parking lot, creating a “front door” that is symbolic of the environmentally sensitive and ecologically-centered STEM departments within the facility.

Other sustainable features include glass walls, shading devices, and graywater conservation. The facility provides state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, and office space, allowing the curriculum to better support 21st-century teaching pedagogies.