The UT Dallas Sciences Building Embraces Innovation and Sustainability

(from left to right) UTD mascot Temoc; Dr. Inga Musselman, University provost; mathematics senior Alison Spadaro; UT System Regent Christina Melton Crain; Dr. David Hyndman, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; President Richard Benson; Dr. Calvin Jamison, vice president for facilities and economic development; Richardson Mayor Pro Tem Arefin Shamsul; and UTD cheerleader Olivia Martinez

The Sciences Building, spanning 186,000 square feet, opened in July 2020 on The University of Texas at Dallas campus. It houses the Department of Physics, classrooms, offices, teaching and research labs, and activities of the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences. Notable features include 150-seat and 300-seat lecture halls, an open courtyard with green space, and an L-shaped design that showcases science labs on the ground floor. Shared lounge spaces on the second and third floors encourage informal collaboration among faculty and students. The building's basement, built close to bedrock, is ideal for vibration-sensitive experiments. It has achieved LEED Gold status for its sustainable design, utilizing regionally sourced materials and energy-efficient technology to reduce water consumption and energy use. Moreover, extensive recycling efforts diverted about 75% of demolition and construction waste from landfills, with nearly a quarter of the building's materials comprising recycled content.