The Fish Center
for the Sciences

Designing a building as ambitious as the Fish Center required the expertise and the imagination of those who know the sciences inside and out. Associate Provost and Associate Professor of Geoscience Nick Metz led the team, describing the process as a research project in its own right.

The faculty considered every detail: how to share labs without sacrificing specialized equipment, how to consolidate instrument rooms, and how to integrate teaching spaces that encourage collaboration without sacrificing focus. They worked with Boston-based Suffolk Design to test ideas, refine layouts and ensure that ambitious designs were feasible within the budget.

The design of the Fish Center — a sleek, four-story glass-and-brick structure — reflects the interdisciplinary mission of the sciences at HWS. A striking glass connector will link the Fish Center to Napier and Rosenberg Halls, guiding visitors through the science precinct and visually anchoring the southern axis of the Quad.

A second-floor gathering space will offer sweeping views of Lansing Hall and the Science Quad — a vantage point Metz calls "a space for reflection, collaboration and seeing how far we've come."

The donors envision a space that breaks down traditional silos, encouraging faculty and students from different disciplines to share tools, knowledge and ideas in ways that spark innovation.

The future of science on the Quad is unfolding in real time. The building, with its glowing glass connector and collaborative workspaces, is a testament to thoughtful planning, faculty dedication, and a willingness to embrace change.