Midwestern State University & Texas Tech University System

The geosciences, biology and chemistry laboratories and support spaces in Bolin Hall have not kept up with current standards, and this expansion and renovation allowed Midwestern State University to update these labs, as well as the remainder of the spaces that serve the Moody College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics and the Kimball School of Geosciences.  

Originally constructed in 1963, the three-story building is aging and required a remodel to meet modern student and faculty expectations for teaching and research. Primary goals of the institution are to attract and retain students and to compete against peer institutions.

One unique challenge was the need to perform a complete system replacement, life safety upgrades, laboratory upgrades, a modest addition and a general interior refresh while the building is maintained in full operation. A complex phasing plan allowed the remodel to go forward with minimal disruption to building activities. The team’s strategy created building zones that roughly aligned with existing building systems, allowing for a very granular, room by room deployment of the design.

The new addition focuses on greatly needed classroom space, optimized for collaborative project-based learning. An under-utilized tier classroom will be repurposed to form a campus side entry to the building and to create flexible, informal collaborative learning and social areas for students and faculty. Additional specialty spaces include a vivarium, greenhouse and biology museum with a collection of several thousand specimens.