College science building rethinks the common classroom-lab facility

Designed by NTDStichler Architecture, San Diego, with Bovis Lend Lease, New York, as the construction manager, the $28 million South Science Building at Mt. San Antonio College integrates classrooms, labs, and faculty offices into community of learning spaces unlike a typical classroom setting. Pods consisting of two labs, a meeting area, and a prep room create semi-private, flexible teaching spaces for astronomy, histotechnology, oceanography, geology, chemistry, biology, earth science, anthropology, and physics classes. Each of the 23 labs comes equipped with data, communication, and audio/visual equipment, lab and lecture space, a dedicated ventilation system, deluge and eyewash showers, high-volume exhaust hoods, cabinetry, casework, and shelving.