Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex

The Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) on the Allston Campus accommodates Harvard University’s engineering sciences departments on a floor space of around 50,000 sqm.

Opened in 2021, the building was clad with highly efficient steel and aluminium façades nested within each other. Solar heat input is regulated by geometrically optimised shading with special stainless steel sheets, while light screens direct the daylight into interior rooms. The SEC development is one of the most energy-efficient laboratory buildings in the world, and has achieved LEED Platinum certification.

Brand: Gartner

Architect: Behnisch Architekten

Owners: Harvard Planning & Project Management (HPPM), President and Fellows of Harvard College

The project

The concept

Highly transparent glass ribbons in the plinth connect the building with the outside world. The entrance façade extends over two storeys and provides structure to the building complex. On the terraced south side, garden façades open the building up towards a park.

What did we do?

We designed, engineered, manufactured and installed unitised aluminium façade; 1,100 sqm of stick system; 2,000 shading devices; 480 openable windows; and 16,000 deep-drawn, 3D laser-cut stainless steel sheets. Atrium façades are suspended from above using a steel rod tension system.