Barnard College, Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center (RDSC) is poised to reimagine science education at Barnard College through a bold transformation of the college’s academic landscape. Anchored by a comprehensive renovation of the existing 1968 Altschul Hall, the RDSC will expand with an elegant 14-story ‘sliver’ addition to the unite all science departments under one roof— advancing research, cultivating interdisciplinary collaboration, and fostering inclusive learning. By moving faculty and meeting spaces into the new addition, the clear-span central spaces of Altschul Hall will be optimized for efficient, flexible research and teaching laboratories, with its lower levels opened up to feature technology-rich classrooms, a student-focused ‘science commons’, and a ‘bio-climatic’ campus gateway space. Creating both physical and intellectual connections, the RDSC will strengthen campus engagement with the sciences and catalyze a more integrated academic experience. Inspired by the illuminating power of scientific discovery, the building’s design draws on the metaphor of ‘light,’ emphasizing openness, transparency, and delicacy in response to the opacity and bulk of the original Altschul Hall. Abundant glazing will bring in natural daylight to animate the interior, creating a vibrant and welcoming environment that supports curiosity and connection. Setting a new benchmark for sustainability, the RDSC will be New York City’s first all-electric, zero operational carbon-ready academic science building. This pioneering achievement underscores Barnard’s commitment to environmental responsibility and future-forward design. More than a building, the RDSC represents Barnard’s mission to empower the next generation of women and historically under-represented voices in STEM. By integrating high-performance design with academic excellence, the project will foster a culture of discovery, innovation, and equity - positioning the college at the forefront of 21st-century science education.