North Dakota State University, Center For Nanoscale Science and Engineering
Fargo, North DakotaThe Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering is the third building to be constructed at North Dakota State University's newly established Research and Technology Park. The Center's focus on research, its high visibility and its ability to attract and retain faculty and partnerships with the University have been important factors inspiring the design. The Center is approximately 76,000 SF, with three primary components. The clean room component includes Class 10 tunnels and Class 100 and 10,000 ballrooms for research and development of semiconductors, sensor, coatings and processes. The wet lab component houses materials chemistry laboratories, sensor engineering labs, and process engineering labs with a focus on nanoscale technologies. The third component contains computer labs, administrative offices and incubator space for start-up partnerships. The three components are each contained in discrete planning blocks that are physically linked together by a circulation commons to encourage interdisciplinary interaction. Security, vibration control, air quality, systems reliability and redundancy were also considered in the planning. HGA designed this project in association with the local architect, Foss Associates.