MSUIC, Research Facility
The cornerstone of technological
advancement in the Gallatin Valley.
MSUIC, Research Facility
ARCHITECTURE | INTERIORS
As part of the Montana State University Innovation Campus, the new research facility plays a vital role in fulfilling economic development goals to further empower Gallatin Valley as a technological and entrepreneurial powerhouse. The advanced research facility satisfies the region’s growing demand for high-tech laboratory and manufacturing space, in addition to enhancing the research capabilities of MSU. Designed to accommodate the private sector, as well as students, the planning process incorporated in-depth engagement with various stakeholders, potential tenants, and the University to develop a design conducive to their collective technology and research needs. The final result is a state-of-the-art facility poised to draw top technology companies, scientists, and engineers from around the world to the fastest growing micropolitan area in the country.
MSUIC Applied Research Lab
The cornerstone of technological
advancement in the Gallatin Valley.
ARCHITECTURE
INTERIORS
As part of the Montana State University Innovation Campus, the new research facility plays a vital role in fulfilling economic development goals to further empower Gallatin Valley as a technological and entrepreneurial powerhouse. The advanced research facility satisfies the region’s growing demand for high-tech laboratory and manufacturing space, in addition to enhancing the research capabilities of MSU. Designed to accommodate the private sector, as well as students, the planning process incorporated in-depth engagement with various stakeholders, potential tenants, and the University to develop a design conducive to their collective technology and research needs. The final result is a state-of-the-art facility poised to draw top technology companies, scientists, and engineers from around the world to the fastest growing micropolitan area in the country.
Dual functions existing as one
The facility contains both public and classified spaces, designed according to their separate functions. Comprised of warm, wood materials and copious windows, public areas exude an inviting atmosphere with flexible, breakout space for collaboration. Classified, controlled areas occupy the majority of the floor plan, featuring cutting-edge laboratories and research facilities with proper security and maximum privacy from other spaces. A clear break in exterior materials delineates the controlled section of the building from the public area, yet an internal network of corridors connects the various spaces together.
Creating beauty within a conventionally uninspired environment
Vertical, translucent panels allow natural light to filter into controlled, laboratory circulation spaces, creating an artful expression when illuminated at night. Artificial lighting inside the building radiates through the panels to produce a glowing, lantern-like effect visible from the exterior. During the day, the thin, linear panels are concealed behind a perforated metal panel to deliver a monolithic impact.
One piece of a much
greater whole
As the first building created for the Innovation Campus’s multi-phased design, the facility sets the architectural tone and overall aesthetic for future construction on campus. Additionally, the facility serves as a critical catalyst for establishing the initial components of a walkable, connected culture in alignment with MSU’s existing campus.