Opening of the Robert Day Sciences Center at Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College has inaugurated the Robert Day Sciences Center, a new architectural landmark on campus. The building’s design is based on stacked and rotated volumes, creating a full-height central atrium that offers a distinct spatial experience for its users.
Layered Architectural Design
The structure is composed of overlapping blocks, each rotated at an angle from the one below. This arrangement generates an open atrium that allows direct visibility between classrooms and laboratories, transforming circulation inside the building into a hub of interaction among students and researchers.
Connected Interior Spaces
Visitors enter through a striking canopy that leads into a spacious lobby flooded with natural light. At the heart of the atrium, large staircases serve not only as vertical connectors but also as social and study spaces. Classrooms are distributed along the perimeter, benefiting from natural views of the surrounding mountains while keeping the central atrium as the core for gathering.
Continuity Between Inside and Outside
The façades feature a wood-like texture and a strong structural rhythm, giving the building both warmth and presence. Interior structural elements extend seamlessly to the exterior, unifying the visual language and reinforcing the continuity between inside and outside.
Open Terraces and Outdoor Spaces
The design team landscaped wide terraces at the building’s corners with native plants, creating outdoor classrooms and study areas. The rooftop integrates large solar panel arrays, strengthening the building’s sustainable approach.
An Environment for Innovation
By combining social spaces, interactive staircases, outward-facing classrooms, and natural terraces, the Robert Day Sciences Center presents a contemporary model of how architecture can foster creativity and collaboration within an academic setting.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The article introduces the Robert Day Sciences Center as a composition of rotated blocks, thereby generating a light-filled central atrium that organizes circulation. In addition, the visuals highlight façades with wood-textured panels and a structural rhythm, while green terraces provide open-air study areas. However, the question arises as to whether the building truly integrates into the broader campus context, since the design risks appearing more iconic than cohesive. Nevertheless, the project demonstrates a strong architectural vision. It not only enriches academic life but also, more importantly, positions sustainability as a key driver in shaping future educational environments.
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