In April 2024, construction officially broke ground on the Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences at the Carnegie Mellon University. This followed a grant worth US $75 million made possible from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. This is part of a historic US$ 150 million partnership which is the largest ever single grant from the foundation. Additionally, a US$ 15 million commitment from the Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds Foundation and the Henry L. Hillman Foundation was put forward for the Institute for Contemporary Art Pittsburgh wing.
The Institute for Contemporary Art Pittsburgh will enjoy a vastly expanded home within the Hall of Sciences. With the cultural and civic anchor of the building being ICA Pittsburgh, the facility will double its exhibition spaces, which allows for the expansion of programming that furthers its contribution to the global arts and culture conversation.
Scope of the facility
The 338,900-square-foot building will host researchers and students from its Mellon College of Science (MCS). Additionally, students and researchers from the School of Computer Science (SCS). The new facility will also house the new Institute for Contemporary Art Pittsburgh (ICA). The institute serves as a critical hub for art, culture and exchange.
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Designed to foster collaboration, the building will help the university to advance a new era of data-driven research. Furthermore, creating expression and cross-disciplinary education. Anchoring a prominent city intersection, the Hall of Sciences will be positioned as a gateway, connecting the university and its surrounding community.
The Hall of Sciences is being designed and built with flexible spaces that can be configured quickly to answer emerging problems and respond to new avenues of discovery.
More details on the Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences
Design of the building began with an extensive proposal process involving over 40 architecture firms, leading Carnegie Mellon to select ZGF. PJ Dick and Mascaro Construction will jointly serve as construction managers for the project. Both companies are familiar with the university. PJ Dick is currently wrapping up work on the Alan Magee Scaife Hall of Engineering. In addition, Mascaro Construction is engaged in the Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics.
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Facilities at the Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences
The building’s tower is seven stories tall. Inside, occupants will find state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories, classrooms and lecture halls of various sizes, and work and collaboration spaces. A full-service restaurant and several interior and exterior spaces for gatherings will further activate the building and attract visitors. The university is developing the project for Gold LEED Certification, a standard for buildings that are highly environmentally efficient. Additionally, an underground parking garage with 130 spaces.
“At CMU we conduct research and offer educational programs at the intersection of the sciences, computer science and the arts — from new approaches in artificial intelligence and machine learning to preeminent biological research, computer graphics and computer vision in the visual arts,” said Martial Hebert, dean of the School of Computer Science.
