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Science, Engineering, and Technology Building
![The grand stair featuring a curved glass feature and environmental graphic design.](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-1151x1536.jpg 1151w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-105x140.jpg 105w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-60x80.jpg 60w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-300x400.jpg 300w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-450x600.jpg 450w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-600x800.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-900x1200.jpg 900w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-1199x1600.jpg 1199w)
The Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) Building sets the standard for community college science buildings in Maryland. This dynamic building, modeled after the shape of a canyon, inspires scientific discovery among the student body and the wider community. The thoughtful interior organization, which further draws upon the geological strata of a canyon as inspiration, ensures easy circulation while exposing users to multiple disciplines in a single visit. The SET’s strategic use of windows and skylights, enclosed and informal study spaces, and open classrooms all aim to put ‘science on display’ to the entire campus.
Vibrant learning communities and modern lab environments support STEM — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — student success. This addition to campus supports several academic programs in the college’s offerings ranging from the physical sciences, such as horticulture and geology, to engineering and technology programs, including cybersecurity and computer forensics.
![The building’s community-facing façade during daylight.](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2_HCC-SET-Exterior-Day.jpg 2250w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2_HCC-SET-Exterior-Day-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2_HCC-SET-Exterior-Day-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2_HCC-SET-Exterior-Day-170x113.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2_HCC-SET-Exterior-Day-80x53.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2_HCC-SET-Exterior-Day-400x267.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2_HCC-SET-Exterior-Day-600x400.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2_HCC-SET-Exterior-Day-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2_HCC-SET-Exterior-Day-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2_HCC-SET-Exterior-Day-1600x1067.jpg 1600w)
As a gateway building in Howard Community College’s new science quad, its materiality and design complement the existing facilities to establish a distinct identity for this new precinct. Sitting on a prominent site, transparency, and visibility are a continuous theme inside and out. All approaches and views are carefully designed to be responsive to their contexts while maintaining the purpose of sharing science education with the community.
The design balances the representation of the physical sciences, which tend to be less rigid and organic, and the engineering and technology sciences, which tend to be more structured and concrete. It also addresses STEM pedagogical requirements while remaining adaptive to future needs and serves as a central gathering place on campus to foster a sense of community.
![The grand stair featuring a curved glass feature and environmental graphic design.](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-1151x1536.jpg 1151w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-105x140.jpg 105w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-60x80.jpg 60w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-300x400.jpg 300w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-450x600.jpg 450w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-600x800.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-900x1200.jpg 900w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3_HCC-SET-Feature-Stair-1199x1600.jpg 1199w)
The SET is comprised of two wings: the Lab Wing housing physics, biology, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology labs, and the ‘Academic Pavilion’ that houses active learning classrooms, collaborative study areas, and administrative offices. Beyond the primary lab spaces, SET provides spaces for astronomy, environmental science, and horticulture, including a rooftop observing area and a greenhouse.
The atrium serves as the integral organizing element of the building, tying the two wings together to create a dynamic, interior street for community building and the exchange of ideas. At the culmination of the grand stair, a three-story, curving glass, feature wall displays the names of prominent scientists throughout history for a memorable moment inside the building. A curved skylight brings in daylight, minimizing the use of electric lighting.
![A classroom with students utilizing tools such as a moveable ceiling crane and a three-dimensional...](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/4_HCC-SET-Maker-Space.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/4_HCC-SET-Maker-Space-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/4_HCC-SET-Maker-Space-105x140.jpg 105w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/4_HCC-SET-Maker-Space-60x80.jpg 60w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/4_HCC-SET-Maker-Space-300x400.jpg 300w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/4_HCC-SET-Maker-Space-450x600.jpg 450w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/4_HCC-SET-Maker-Space-600x800.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/4_HCC-SET-Maker-Space-900x1200.jpg 900w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/4_HCC-SET-Maker-Space-1201x1600.jpg 1201w)
The building’s design and programming emphasize experiential and participatory learning opportunities with access to the tools and technologies that facilitate and enrich learning. Classrooms, labs, and offices are organized to ensure ease of circulation through and around the building. Additional spaces include a learning garden, digital fabrication and 3-D printing lab, big-build room, drop zone, interdisciplinary research labs, greenhouse, telescope observation, and an outdoor courtyard.
![A flexible, laboratory classroom featuring panoramic windows and students studying.](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5_HCC-SET-Lab.jpg 2000w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5_HCC-SET-Lab-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5_HCC-SET-Lab-170x128.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5_HCC-SET-Lab-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5_HCC-SET-Lab-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5_HCC-SET-Lab-600x450.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5_HCC-SET-Lab-800x600.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5_HCC-SET-Lab-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5_HCC-SET-Lab-1600x1200.jpg 1600w)
With a program relying heavily on laboratories with a high energy demand, it was crucial the building systems’ design could meet the unique needs of each space type while maximizing energy savings. To maximize efficiency, the air handling system of the project was zoned to separate lab demands from classroom and office demands. The SET was commissioned to ensure the systems operate according to the university’s requirements and building operators were trained to maintain the building’s performance post-occupancy.
The SET Building achieved LEED Gold Certification and the AIA 2030 Commitment benchmark of reducing energy consumption by 70% beyond the current code baseline.
![A rooftop telescope observatory with state-of-the-art equipment.](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6_HCC-SET-Telescope.jpg 1999w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6_HCC-SET-Telescope-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6_HCC-SET-Telescope-170x128.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6_HCC-SET-Telescope-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6_HCC-SET-Telescope-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6_HCC-SET-Telescope-600x450.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6_HCC-SET-Telescope-800x600.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6_HCC-SET-Telescope-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6_HCC-SET-Telescope-1600x1201.jpg 1600w)
Featured community spaces contribute to the building’s welcoming design. The first-floor community room, flexible atrium space, and rooftop telescope observatory are all open to the public for educational purposes or events.