New science building opens for business
 
Construction of the Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan Science Building, the centerpiece of DePaul's Campaign for Excellence in Science, was completed in November 2008, 18 months after ground breaking. It is the first new academic facility built on campus in a decade and the first new building in over a decade to be financed significantly from donor funds.

Scheduled to open for classes on Jan. 5, 2009, the 129,600-square-foot facility is the new home for the chemistry and environmental sciences departments. Also, it provides expansion space for the biological sciences department, which is housed in a neighboring building.

The new science building includes 23 research labs, eight dedicated teaching labs, a multipurpose room that can easily convert from a classroom to a lab, and five large tiered classrooms. Two rooftop green houses - one for teaching and another for research - are a visible sign of the environmentally friendly architecture of the new building.

The Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan Building meets the standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council for its energy-efficient design and environmentally friendly construction materials. Advanced, environmentally preferred building technologies were used during construction to meet stringent certification requirements.

The key LEED features of the new facility include the extensive use of regional materials and recycled content during construction; high-efficiency mechanical equipment; daylight harvesting and occupancy sensors; water-efficient landscaping with only indigenous and climate appropriate vegetation; and a partially vegetated roof as well as reflective paving and roofing to lessen the building's heat-island effect and reduce surrounding air temperatures. Exterior and interior lighting systems for the new building have been designed to reduce light pollution, which can disrupt nocturnal species and limit visual access to the night sky. To lessen the facility's impact on the ozone layer, only materials with low-emission volatile organic compounds were used in construction.

"These elements make the building 24 percent more efficient than a conventional building and create annual energy savings of approximately $78,000 a year for the university," explains Bob Janis, vice president of facility operations. "DePaul staff has developed a 'Green Housekeeping Plan' to continue in the direction established in the building design and construction and maintain a healthy indoor environment."

The state-of-the art new facility will strengthen DePaul's innovative and collaborative approach to science education by providing more opportunities for interdisciplinary classes and research, as well as increased interaction among faculty and students. Also, it will foster greater partnerships with Chicago-area school districts, community colleges and scientific and cultural institutions.




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