Overview
Lab 2A is one of three teaching and research buildings that anchors the Academic Quad as part of the 2020 Project campus expansion initiative. The building consists of four floors above grade with a partial basement. This basement nestles into UC Merced's existing topography and links the laboratory to the shared loading dock.
Within the building, the wet and dry laboratories are organized around modular planning principles that allow the configuration to evolve over time. At the intersection of research and teaching laboratories, shared spaces such as conference rooms, break rooms and collaboration areas bring people together across disciplines.
The architectural expression builds on the legacy of UC Merced’s original buildings, using materials familiar to the Central Valley while supporting modern functionality. Primary exterior materials include cast-in-place architectural concrete, corrugated metal and high-performance glazing. Colored cement plaster is used as an accent at ground level and along exterior stairs.
Project Details
Architect: SOM
Program: Academic
Developer: Plenary Properties Merced
Contractor: Webcor
Size: 155,000 GSF, 4 floors with basement
Sustainability: LEED Gold target
Completion Date: Fall 2019
The "2A" Wet/Dry Laboratory defines the length of the new Academic Quad
