Designing flexible learning and research spaces to support the rising demand for hands-on education and training

University of North Texas at Dallas - STEM Building

The University of North Texas at Dallas (UNTD) wanted their new science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) building to be a contemporary research and teaching facility that would strike a balance between flexibility, interdisciplinary, and high efficiency utilization of space. They engaged our designers to help realize this vision.

We began by carefully identifying and interpreting future needs during programming. Hosting discovery workshops, we worked with key stakeholders through early design to identify needs, build consensus, and produce a strong design.

The new STEM building will house general “high-flex” classrooms, instructional labs, research space, adaptable wet labs, and a variety of collaboration spaces throughout the building. Support areas will include instrumentation, cold, and dark-enabled rooms to conduct research and store materials in optimal conditions. In addition, a café, pre-function area, and classroom/meeting space will be located on the ground level.

The building design supports UNTD’s STEM education goals of creating upward mobility for a community of learners and first-generation college students by stimulating interest in the sciences and through recruiting, training, and employing a more diverse workforce.