Metcalf Center for Science and Engineering
Encyclopedia
42°20′54.5"N 71°6′0.65"W
Metcalf Center for Science and Engineering (SCI) is a building owned by Boston University
and named for Arthur G.B. Metcalf. Metcalf founded what would later become the university's engineering
college and served as its chair. He also donated millions of dollars toward the construction of the building. Located at 590-596 Commonwealth Avenue, the building contains offices, classrooms, and laboratories primarily used by the Physics, Chemistry, and Biology Departments of the College of Arts and Sciences
. Its facilities are also used for biomedical research. Boston University boasts that there is a waiting list for researchers wanting to conduct research in the building.
The edifice was constructed out of three existing industrial buildings in 1983 when John Silber was Boston University's president. The building's modern atrium was originally a spacing between two of the original buildings. The building underwent a $25 million replacement of its ventilation system
in 2008, resulting in a two-story HVAC unit being installed on the building's roof. The original unit installed in 1983 was inadequate for the size of the building, particularly in dealing with the moisture of ambient air on hot summer days. The atrium of the building has large green pipes running the height of the building which connect to the HVAC. The exposed nature of these pipes recalls the architectural movement of utilitarian Structural Expressionism akin to Centre Georges Pompidou
in Paris.
The building is set back from the street by a brick
plaza, formerly a parking lot, which includes blocky patches of grass. A metal sculpture in front is titled "Explosion".
Previously, in the place of the building, at the same address, had been a converted parking garage, the basement of which had been a music venue known as the Psychedelic Supermarket. The venue had had such bands as Cream
(1967), the Grateful Dead
(1967), Janis Joplin
(1968), and the Moody Blues (1968).
Metcalf Center for Science and Engineering (SCI) is a building owned by Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
and named for Arthur G.B. Metcalf. Metcalf founded what would later become the university's engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
college and served as its chair. He also donated millions of dollars toward the construction of the building. Located at 590-596 Commonwealth Avenue, the building contains offices, classrooms, and laboratories primarily used by the Physics, Chemistry, and Biology Departments of the College of Arts and Sciences
Boston University College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is Boston University's largest undergraduate school, offering Bachelor of Arts degrees in 23 different departments and 20 interdisciplinary programs...
. Its facilities are also used for biomedical research. Boston University boasts that there is a waiting list for researchers wanting to conduct research in the building.
The edifice was constructed out of three existing industrial buildings in 1983 when John Silber was Boston University's president. The building's modern atrium was originally a spacing between two of the original buildings. The building underwent a $25 million replacement of its ventilation system
HVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
in 2008, resulting in a two-story HVAC unit being installed on the building's roof. The original unit installed in 1983 was inadequate for the size of the building, particularly in dealing with the moisture of ambient air on hot summer days. The atrium of the building has large green pipes running the height of the building which connect to the HVAC. The exposed nature of these pipes recalls the architectural movement of utilitarian Structural Expressionism akin to Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
in Paris.
The building is set back from the street by a brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
plaza, formerly a parking lot, which includes blocky patches of grass. A metal sculpture in front is titled "Explosion".
Previously, in the place of the building, at the same address, had been a converted parking garage, the basement of which had been a music venue known as the Psychedelic Supermarket. The venue had had such bands as Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
(1967), the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
(1967), Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
(1968), and the Moody Blues (1968).