Construction of the Millennium Science Complex at Penn State University Park.
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A construction worker finishes the installation of windows on a central exterior wall of the Millennium Science Complex. These windows will overlook the green space created between the building's wings and Pollock and Bigler roads.
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The cantilevered portion of the Millennium Science Complex is silhouetted against the late-afternoon sky. This view is from the area of the plaza directly under the opening of the building's corner.
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This is another view of the cantilevered opening of the Millennium Science Complex, as seen from the plaza at ground level, looking up.
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Approximately 20 "quiet labs" will take up the northwest corner of the Millenium Science Complex. Built on their own individual concrete slabs and separated from the rest of the building, these facilities will house vibration-sensitive instruments, machines and research. Here, this separation can be seen between the lab's left-hand gray metal with tape marking, and the red door frame that is... Read more ›
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While the most obvious portions of the building's cantilever design can be seen from ground level, much of the design's support comes from the U-shaped shear wall, visible here. The wall begins with the upright concrete slab visible to the left of the frame, continues back, turns right at a 90-degree angle, and then right again to line up with the concrete slab. When the building is finished,... Read more ›
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The loading dock and receiving area of the Millennium Science Complex is one floor below street level with a 10-degree grade ramp connecting it to Pollock Road.
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The cantilevered portion of the Millennium Science Complex is one of the most obvious design elements of the structure, making up its iconic plaza overhang. The architecture receives its strength by continuing the angled steel design into the ground, as seen here in the basement of the building. Angled beams such as these, which extend to more than 80 feet each, connect the two wings of the... Read more ›
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Dick Tennent, senior project manager with the Office of Physical Plant, walks the length of the access tunnel connecting the Millennium Science Complex to its neighboring and related facility, the Life Sciences Building. The shaft allows easier transport of collaborative materials including experiments and supplies, as well as enabling faculty and staff to traverse between the two parts of the... Read more ›
Millennium Science Complex Construction 009
This access tunnel connects the Millennium Science Complex to its neighboring and related facility, the Life Sciences Building. The Millennium Science Complex is to the left of the frame, while the Life Sciences Building entrance is to the right. The shaft allows easier transport of collaborative materials including experiments and supplies, as well as enabling faculty and staff to traverse... Read more ›
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This is an exterior view of the "quiet labs" area of the Millennium Science Complex, as seen from the basement. The more than 20 individual research spaces are separated from each other and the rest of the building's structure by being situated on their own individual concrete pads which lie on the bedrock beneath. This isolation aids in freeing the spaces of vibration and sound from other... Read more ›
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To lessen electromagnetic interference through the Millennium Science Complex, electrical hubs such as this one in the building's basement, have been layered with quarter-inch thick stainless steel plating, which will cut down the transmission of unwanted interference generated by the everyday usage of electricity.
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Due to the scientific and chemistry-related nature of the Millennium Science Complex, the building has been built to accommodate quantities of chemicals and compounds that may be dangerous or hazardous in the event of an accident or catastrophe. To cut down on potential damage to the building, the storage area for these has been placed on an exterior wall in the basement, with three large... Read more ›
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Quarter-inch steel plating is installed in electrical compartments of the Millennium Science Complex. To lessen electromagnetic interference through the Millennium Science Complex, electrical hubs throughout the building have been layered with the plating, which will cut down the transmission of unwanted interference generated by the everyday usage of electricity.
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Racks of plans, details and blueprints sit in an unidentified construction management office at the site of the Millennium Science Complex. Many dozens of such documents are required for the whole building process, which is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2011.
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This is one of several "green roofs" featured in the environmentally friendly design of the Millennium Science Complex. After construction is completed, plants and greenery will inhabit this space, aiding in the building's temperature control. Office and work spaces will look out over these areas, although foot access will be limited.
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This is a very wide-angle view of the Millennium Science Complex construction site, as seen from the eastern inside corner of the building's second floor.
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This will become a common area of the Millennium Science Complex, located at the junction of the building's Life Sciences and Materials Research wings. Seating, social and kitchen areas are planned for the spaces, located in some form on each above-ground level.
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This is a view looking out into the plaza of the Millennium Science Complex, as seen from the second floor, which will contain lab, work and research areas.
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This is an eastward view of the Millennium Science Complex construction site, as seen from the building's third floor, the level on which faculty and staff offices and research spaces will be located. This side of the building will house the Life Sciences, while the lefthand side will be home to Materials Research.
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A design mock-up of a workspace sits on the third floor of the Millennium Science Complex, existing as an aid to the construction process. Because the building is built on a 22-foot by 22 foot grid, work spaces are arrayed in a proportional fashion; for instance, these work tables will be back-to-back, taking up 5 feet, with several feet of space in between, and repeated in 22-foot units,... Read more ›
