Vassar College’s new Integrated Science Commons brings together all of the College’s science departments and programs within close proximity to one another in an effort to promote interdisciplinary collaboration. The 157,000-square-foot Center, composed of both new and renovated buildings, creates a cohesive and vibrant science community while providing state-of-art teaching and research laboratories for students and faculty. The centerpiece of the project, The Bridge, is a newly constructed, 82,000-square-foot, LEED-Silver certified building equipped with the latest scientific equipment and resources including a robotics lab, an earth and environment lab, visualization lab, fabrication facility, café, outdoor patio, and open common spaces. As its name suggests, The Bridge serves as a link to the other recently renovated science buildings—Olmsted Hall, New England, and Sanders Physics, fostering collaboration across the College’s science curriculum.

Poulin + Morris developed a comprehensive environmental graphics, donor recognition, and wayfinding sign program for the Commons which includes building, public space, laboratory, lounge, and classroom identification, as well as directional, informational, and regulatory signs relating to building, health, accessibility, fire, and ADA codes. Located in The Bridge building’s main entrance lobby, a donor recognition wall features vertical panels displaying individual donor names. Integrating with the architecture of the building, the panels align with the wooden slats of a 16-foot-long wall, while their varying dimensions and alternating placement on the wall create a dynamic visual effect. Dimensional letterforms display additional donor names throughout the Commons while water-jet cut stenciled aluminum panels provide room identification.