The E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory at the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering has a gravity-defying form: The seven-story building’s solid upper floors emerge above the lighter, mostly glass base. Designed by EYP, the project, which took three years to construct, recently had its official grand opening.
Exterior materials include dichroic glass and ironspot brick that change color throughout the day depending on sunlight and weather conditions. Both materials represent significant deviations from the traditional campus architectural language. At night, façade lighting allows the building to stand out as a beacon for the Clark School of Engineering.
Inside, the 60,000 sf structure houses more than 20 laboratories. The non-traditional interior is designed to be flexible with “pods” that can be shifted into multiple arrangements depending on group size or project scope. Activities in these spaces could include everything from classroom education to research to prototyping. Walls can be easily reconfigured, providing the university ease in adapting to new research demands.
“We designed a building that is unconventional in every way,” said Charles Kirby, Senior Principal, Academic Planning and Design, EYP. “Specialized research spaces concealed in the flexible ‘factory’ that float above the glass base reveal the undergraduate entrepreneurial spaces that are central to the Clark Engineering school’s mission.”
Prominent collaborative spaces—one of the hallmarks of the IDEA Factory’s design—offer bright, bold pops of color that help define space types while activating inspiration and creativity. Nicknamed the “IDEA Factory,” the building’s street level offers open views for onlookers to peer inside. On this level, undergraduates share tools in the Rapid Prototyping Lab, prepare for design competitions in the ALEx Garage innovation workspace, and work on next-generation apps in the Startup Shell, an incubator for student-run startups. The Shell already has generated more than 180 ventures valued at $100 million.
Building Team:
Owner: University of Maryland
Design architect: EYP
Architect of record: EYP
MEP engineer: EYP
Structural engineer: Hope Furrer Associates
General contractor/construction manager: Clark Construction (design-build delivery method)
Related Stories
| Jan 28, 2014
16 awe-inspiring interior designs from around the world [slideshow]
The International Interior Design Association released the winners of its 4th Annual Global Excellence Awards. Here's a recap of the winning projects.
| Jan 13, 2014
Custom exterior fabricator A. Zahner unveils free façade design software for architects
The web-based tool uses the company's factory floor like "a massive rapid prototype machine,” allowing designers to manipulate designs on the fly based on cost and other factors, according to CEO/President Bill Zahner.
| Jan 11, 2014
Getting to net-zero energy with brick masonry construction [AIA course]
When targeting net-zero energy performance, AEC professionals are advised to tackle energy demand first. This AIA course covers brick masonry's role in reducing energy consumption in buildings.
| Jan 8, 2014
Strengthened sprinkler rules could aid push for mid-rise wood structures in Canada
Strengthened sprinkler regulations proposed for the 2015 National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) could help a movement to allow midrise wood structures.
Smart Buildings | Jan 7, 2014
9 mega redevelopments poised to transform the urban landscape
Slowed by the recession—and often by protracted negotiations—some big redevelopment plans are now moving ahead. Here’s a sampling of nine major mixed-use projects throughout the country.
| Dec 13, 2013
Safe and sound: 10 solutions for fire and life safety
From a dual fire-CO detector to an aspiration-sensing fire alarm, BD+C editors present a roundup of new fire and life safety products and technologies.
| Dec 10, 2013
16 great solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors
From a crowd-funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restrooms, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem-solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.
| Nov 27, 2013
Wonder walls: 13 choices for the building envelope
BD+C editors present a roundup of the latest technologies and applications in exterior wall systems, from a tapered metal wall installation in Oklahoma to a textured precast concrete solution in North Carolina.
| Nov 26, 2013
Construction costs rise for 22nd straight month in November
Construction costs in North America rose for the 22nd consecutive month in November as labor costs continued to increase, amid growing industry concern over the tight availability of skilled workers.
| Nov 25, 2013
Building Teams need to help owners avoid 'operational stray'
"Operational stray" occurs when a building’s MEP systems don’t work the way they should. Even the most well-designed and constructed building can stray from perfection—and that can cost the owner a ton in unnecessary utility costs. But help is on the way.
