View of new building from 19th Avenue.

Science and Engineering Innovation Center

San Francisco State University, Science and Engineering Innovation Center | San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University’s new 105,000-sq.-ft. Science and Engineering Innovation Center represents the future of STEM teaching. It will provide a strong hub that highlights science and engineering innovation in teaching with studio-style lecture/lab environments that reinforce applied learning models.

About

The Project

The Science and Engineering Innovation Center (SEIC) is a collaborative design-build project covering the renovation of an existing structure and the addition of a new replacement building. The project supports the instructional and teaching-related research needs of the College of Science and Engineering (CoSE) and the College of Professional and Global Education (CPaGE).

The 5-story SEIC will showcase STEM programs and be a new hub for CoSE by creating a radically welcoming, state-of-the-art learning and research environment at the intersection of all the departments. The central “heart” is the connective tissue that will be the visual beacon, vertical spine, and wayfinding element within the SEIC.

The SEIC will feature a state-of-the-art 120-seat flexible learning space complemented with undergraduate and graduate teaching/research labs and lab support; large-scale engineering applied project space with smaller scale maker spaces for prototyping and student projects; a student success center along with ample study and collaboration space to support holistic learning that reinforces belonging and persistence. The facility will also include interdisciplinary faculty workspaces for chemistry and engineering with meeting and seminar rooms and the college’s Dean’s Suite.

Students and small class groups learning in a modern open lecture hall.
Lecture Hall – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students assembling a robot in a robotics lab.
Robotics Lab – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students conducting experiments in an engineering lab.
Engineering Lab – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students building components of a car in a makers space.
Maker Space – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students researching in an aerodynamics lab.
Aerodynamics Lab – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students in a modern classroom with surrounding laboratory.
Classroom – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students and faculty conducting experiments in a modern lab.
Research Lab – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students and small class groups learning in a modern open lecture hall.
Lecture Hall – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students assembling a robot in a robotics lab.
Robotics Lab – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students conducting experiments in an engineering lab.
Engineering Lab – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students building components of a car in a makers space.
Maker Space – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students researching in an aerodynamics lab.
Aerodynamics Lab – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students in a modern classroom with surrounding laboratory.
Classroom – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Students and faculty conducting experiments in a modern lab.
Research Lab – Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Sustainable

By Design

The SEIC will be the first all-electric building on campus which will allow SF State to contribute to a carbon neutral (or negative) future. This will help the university to reduce energy and operations costs over the lifetime of the building.

Being all-electric means that domestic hot water and space heating, which are traditionally generated using natural gas, are generated via electricity instead. The building also has a battery backup for emergency power instead of using traditional diesel generators.

In addition to being the first all-electric building on the SF State campus, the facility has been designed to achieve LEED® Gold certification.

Additional sustainability features include: 

  • 25 percent reduction of storm water runoff from the existing site 
  • Heat recovery chillers providing both heating and cooling to the building
  • Exhaust air energy recovery
  • Variable volume exhaust fans varied based on measuring contaminate concentration in the exhaust air stream
  • 100% outside air handling units for enhanced indoor air quality
  • High-reflectivity cool roof 
  • High-performance glazing and wall construction
  • Low-flow plumbing fixtures 
  • Elimination of cooling towers (no water use by mechanical systems)
  • Advanced lighting controls and 20 percent reduction in lighting power 
  • Photovoltaic panels on lower roof
We think you'll like this, too.