Educational Mall

In response to the school curriculum, the design team created an "educational mall" as a showcase of mathematical and scientific significance. The established curriculum contains five "learning strands" of education; physics, engineering, health/biotechnology, information technology and environmental science. Each "strand" includes a classroom/laboratory, an adjoining project area, support spaces and associated offices. The building itself entices students to be inquisitive about their environment, assisting teachers in instilling skills, values, behaviors and ethics related to the fields of science and technology.


Along with exposed exterior and interior building materials, the team designed every facet of this facility to enhance education, exploration and discovery. To generate the building form, designers used three basic mathematical geometries: orthogonal, radial and intersecting plane. The building interior contains exposed construction features including the steel frame, steel beams, ductwork, and plumbing, along with stairwells that reveal the building skin clipped onto the steel frame structure. Vertical mullions in the curtain wall system are set at integrals true to the Fibonacci sequence. Engineering components are accentuated by white supply and return diffusers highlighted against bright blue and green ducts. Additionally, floor designs created in the classrooms with the use of acid stained concrete feature floor designs including the Thames River in New London, Connecticut and a DNA strand.


These features were designed for inclusion in the educational program. Along with standard lesson plans, teachers can instruct students on how theories are implemented using the building as a tool. To promote student teamwork, the designers created pods out of the "strands" and enclosed them in a glass skin. The outer spaces of the pods are used as common areas with soft seating and tables to encourage student collaboration.