Southern Utah University Skaggs Center for Health and Molecular Sciences

The Skaggs Center for Health and Molecular Sciences is a new, four-story cutting-edge university science center that houses the departments of Biology, Nursing, and Physical Science and the Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History. It replaced SUU’s outdated Life Science building and was constructed adjacent to the SUU Science Center with a matching exterior façade that ties them together visually. The new building includes classrooms, office space for faculty and advisors, supply areas, expanded and updated laboratories and lab support areas, animal care rooms, a science-specific study lounge, a nursing center that replicates a hospital environment, a museum, and an enormous five-room rooftop greenhouse. The Skaggs Center is LEED Gold® certified with sustainable design elements that include a highly efficient building envelope, low-flow water systems, metal shades to minimize solar impacts, and LED lighting with auto shut-off sensors. Project challenges included construction on an active college campus and a very constrained, tight site.