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October 30, 2019

New Yale Science Building: One for the ages

PHOTO | New Haven Biz The newly unveiled Yale Science Building.

Yale on Tuesday officially unveiled its newest Science Hill behemoth, known for now simply as the Yale Science Building (at least until someone comes along with a boatload of money to stick his or her own name on it).

Everything about it is big.

Seven stories tall. 280,300 square feet of research-dedicated space devoted to exploration of biology and related disciplines, a shiny, 500-seat lecture hall.

Big price tag, too: reportedly north of $200 million. (What would you expect from an institution with a $30 billion endowment — chopped liver?)

All the bells and whistles: A cryo-electron microscopy suite (a single bedroom would hardly do), an insectary, a rooftop greenhouse with a commanding view of nearby East Rock.

Construction began two years ago with the demolition of the former occupant of the Science Hill footprint, the J.W. Gibbs Laboratory, which was built in 1955.

Stantec, located in Hamden, designed the high-tech interiors and structural features of the new building. New Haven’s Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects designed the outer shell and public spaces. The general contractor for the construction was Dimeo Construction of New Haven. Scientists began moving into their new labs in August.

As befits an institution that traces its roots to 1701, everything at Yale has a chronological horizon that stretches on and on. 

Although science faculty began moving into their new labs just two months ago, the YSB is “already proving to be a landmark building,” according to university President Peter Salovey.

“In 100 years people will say this is where [Yale] put a stake in the ground to reaffirm our commitment to scientific research and science education,” Salovey said.

Dean of Science Jeff Brock, a mathematician who came to New Haven from Brown University just last year, said the new YSB reflects the “deep commitment to fundamental science that Yale has had for centuries.”

New Haven Mayor Toni N. Harp thanked Salovey “for your confidence in New Haven and your investment in New Haven — day after day, year after year and yes, century after century.”

Harp said the new building reflected the university’s “relentless optimism about the future” even during a present-day climate marked by turmoil and division.

So there’s that. On the other hand, they could always move back to Old Saybrook.

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