Student voices informed everything from room programming to circulation patterns, lighting, and informal learning areas. | Ph0to Credit (all): Jeremy Bitterman
By Lindsey Coulter听
In the heart of downtown Portland, a once-stark Brutalist building is now alive with light, greenery, and the energy of听nearly 2,000听students. The Vernier Science Center, formerly Science Building One, has been completely reimagined to foster collaboration, curiosity, and cultural inclusivity. Glass-wrapped entryways, climbing vines, and oversized planters frame a human-scaled entrance, signaling that science education at Portland State University (PSU) is no longer听just about labs听and lectures 鈥斕齣t鈥檚听about people,听community听and the stories they bring.听
The original 1967 structure, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, was constructed for $2.9 million. The new iteration of Vernier Science Center, however, features a mezzanine between the first and second floors, two basement levels, and a covered pedestrian skybridge connecting the second floor to the adjacent Science Research and Teaching Center. Then reimagined six-story, 88,795-square-foot building, completed in 2024 by Bora Architecture and Skanska, however, now serves as an inclusive hub for STEM education, combining advanced laboratories, collaborative听classrooms听and community-centered spaces.听听
The renovation not only updated the facility for contemporary STEM education but also created a new campus landmark. From the expanded entry level to the striking glass facades, every element reflects a thoughtful balance of accessibility, cultural responsiveness, and technical performance.听
Inclusive Design Process听
Engaging PSU鈥檚 diverse student body was critical to the project鈥檚 success. The team intentionally sought input from Black, Indigenous, and students of color to ensure the building met teaching and learning needs while celebrating the university鈥檚 diverse cultural backgrounds. Student voices informed everything from room programming to circulation patterns, lighting, and informal learning areas.听
鈥淐reating inclusive, collaborative spaces was a priority in our new听building鈥檚听design,鈥� said Todd Rosenstiel, Dean of PSU鈥檚 College of Liberal听Arts听and Sciences. 鈥淚n building this transformative and Indigenous-focused space, we brought to life a place of science and discovery created by and for Portland State University鈥檚 diverse population. We built an entire building based on stories of people.鈥�听
The renovation also听leveraged听a Critical Race spatial lens to address historic inequities in science education. Engagement with BIPOC and Indigenous students guided a variety of project elements including programming, the integration of open and informal learning areas, artwork selection and even lighting design. Spaces such as a community gathering room, a decolonized library, and a food/plant teaching kitchen expand the typical lab offerings, allowing Indigenous communities to explore science in culturally meaningful ways. A 鈥渟cience on display鈥� concept permeates the building, giving students opportunities to听showcase听their work collaboratively.听
Skanska Senior Superintendent Troy Boardman highlighted the thematic approach to the building鈥檚 facades.听听
鈥淓ach of the four facing external facades has a unique theme including north toward the Columbia Gorge, east toward the Cascade Mountain Range, south toward the Willamette Valley and west toward the mountainous Coastal Range, which honors the Indigenous journeys to get here,鈥� Boardman said. 鈥淓ach design and construction consideration points to access in multi-disciplinary, collaborative spaces that promote engagement and co-creation.鈥�听
This intentional inclusivity translated into a design that balances transparency and privacy, ensures accessibility, and incorporates material finishes that reflect local ecosystems and Indigenous culture. Human-scaled entryways and communal spaces embody PSU鈥檚 commitment to听equitable听access to STEM education.听
Engineering Excellence听
From an engineering perspective, the project posed significant technical challenges. Integrating seismic upgrades into an active campus environment听required听meticulous planning, careful sequencing, and constant coordination with faculty and staff.听
鈥淪cience buildings are inherently complex, and going听vertical听adds layers of coordination, especially when integrating dense mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to support advanced lab environments,鈥� said Schneider.听
The team employed laser scanning and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to capture precise conditions from the original 1967 structure. By听consolidating听MEP-intensive labs on upper floors, constructability was听optimized, and classroom construction could progress in parallel. The vertical layout also enhances interdisciplinary collaboration by stacking STEM disciplines within a compact footprint, improving connectivity between students and faculty.听
Additionally, the main floor was pushed outward by eight feet and wrapped in glass to strengthen connections to greenery and natural light. The resulting transparency creates visual access and encourages interaction, reflecting the building鈥檚 community-centered mission.听
Construction Strategy and Phasing听
Skanska developed the facility through a $62.8 million, three-phase plan to accommodate the active campus and research labs. Phase I involved demolition of Stratford Hall and relocation of research and lab services into nearby buildings. During demolition, concrete shears and real-time vibration听monitoring听minimized disruption to sensitive labs nearby.听
Phase II focused on the renovation of 48 rooms in the Science Research and Teaching Center while the building remained operational. Work was scheduled around class times, with noisy activities starting as early as 5 a.m., ensuring faculty and students moved only once during the transition.听
The final phase transformed Science Building One into the Vernier Science Center. Adjacent buildings were protected through air quality monitoring and safe pedestrian access management. Schneider emphasized the importance of combining technical precision with human-centered planning.听听
鈥淥ur approach blended technical expertise with human-centered planning,鈥� he said.听
The downtown campus location also posed logistical challenges, including high pedestrian traffic, narrow one-way听streets听and proximity to听the Portland听Streetcar. Just-in-time deliveries and real-time updates via QR codes along the fence line enabled uninterrupted material flow while keeping the campus community informed.听
Sustainability and Resilience听
Sustainability was a core principle throughout the project. Reuse of the original structure minimized embodied carbon, while mechanical upgrades and new double-glazed windows significantly improved energy efficiency. Smart energy practices, including LED lighting, controllable systems, low-emitting materials, and forestry-conscious wood products, supported the building鈥檚 pursuit of LEED Gold certification.听
Waste diversion exceeded 90%, achieved by rigorously sorting materials and prioritizing recycling and reuse. The demolition of Stratford Hall also created opportunities for regeneration, as the site now hosts a campus park with meandering paths, log seating, and native grasses, extending the building鈥檚 focus on wellness,听gathering听and reflection.听
Project Data听
- Project Name: Vernier Science Center听
- Location: Portland, Ore.听
- Area:听89,500 square feet听
- Construction Cost: $64.7 million听
- Architect: Bora Architecture & Interiors, Studio Petretti Architecture, Woofter Bolch Architecture听
- General Contractor: Skanska Building USA听
- Structural Engineer: Catena Consulting Engineers听听
- Consulting Engineers: VEGA, Pace, Affiliated Engineers Inc., Samata, O-LLC, Jacobs Consultancy, PBS Environmental, Project PIVOT, Reichle听
- Acoustical and A/V Consultant: The听Greenbusch听Group听
- Technology Consultant: Vertex Technology Design & Consulting听
- Code Consultant: Code Unlimited (now Jensen Hughes)听
- Roofing: Professional Roof Consultants听
- Sustainability: SORA Design Group听
- Historic Preservation: ARG听
- Geotechnical Engineering: Geotechnical Resources Inc.听
- Foodservice Design: JBK Consulting & Design, Bargreen Ellingson听
- Commissioning: Precision Test and Balance听
- Abatement: Performance Abatement Services, Environmental Resource Inc.听
- Environmental Consultant: Anderson Environmental听
- Excavation: Weitman Excavation听
- Concrete Cutting and Drilling: Bedrock Commercial Concrete Cutting, Finish Line Concrete Cutting听
- Construction: Interior Exterior Specialists, Turtle Mt. Construction,听NativeWorks听LLC, Performance Contracting Inc.听
- Landscape Design: Pac Green Landscape听
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