Professor Guttman works in the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering at California Institute of Technology. His work focuses on a new class of genes known as lincRNA. These genes are involved in controlling how stem cells become other types of cells. Guttman’s work  includes both the experimental as well as the computational components of biological research. In 2012 he received the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award, and has been named as one of Forbes magazine’s ’30 under 30’.

Professor Guttman’s method of research required the design of both a biological lab and a computational area that were efficient, conducive to the work being performed, and that fit within a building originally constructed in the 1930’s. The Guttman lab is located on the second floor of Kerckhoff Hall, and is comprised of 1,732 SF of wet lab area, a 1,077 SF computational office area, and a cold room. The wet lab includes a tissue culture room containing microscopes and bio safety cabinets, as well as a main lab space with 18 workstations and 2 fume hoods. 

Design features include a cohesive architecture that connects the two main components, which are set across the hall from one another, custom bamboo cabinetry and shelving, direct/indirect lighting coupled with under-cabinet lighting to achieve the appropriate light levels in the lab spaces. 3D modeling and rendering was used to help professor Guttman visualize the spaces during design. The scope of work included a new mechanical system including 4 fan coils located in the ceiling to condition the space. Construction of the spaces required timely coordination between AC Martin, the consultants and the general contractor, as the project was completed in approximately 4.5 months.

The nature of scientific collaboration is evolving from one of conducting research within departments to one that creates partnerships across departments/disciplines/institutions and, increasingly, context (academic, government, private industry). This type of interdisciplinary/multi-contextual collaboration has increased the pace of research and encouraged the development of innovative and groundbreaking strategies in investigating increasingly complex problems. Buildings from the 40’s - 90’s do not typically support this type of collaboration. For years, the emphasis in research labs was on bench, support and private office space providing no conference, meeting or social space required for an interdisciplinary team. The Minnich Lab renovation at Caltech looked at the department’s specific needs for collaboration and re-imagined the spaces to open them up and facilitate collaboration between groups.

The Minnich Nanotechnology Research Laser Lab was inserted into the existing 50 year old Keck Laboratory Building at the basement level. Professor Minnich not only conducts experiments, but because of the nature of his work, must also build the elements used in his experiments.  This required spaces to conduct experiments as well as spaces for tooling and manufacturing. AC Martin worked closely with the project team to integrate the proposed design into the existing structure and systems, including upgrades to systems as were required. New spaces include: optical lab, dry lab, wet lab with fume hood, and a sample prep area.

The new Engineering and Technology building for the College of Natural Resources and Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt will feature teaching and research labs, faculty offices, and student support spaces designed to foster collaboration. The goal is to create an environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive at their highest potential, promoting opportunities for interaction, collaboration, and spontaneous encounters, all while reinforcing Cal Poly Humboldt’s mantra of “Learning by Doing.”

The architectural design incorporates passive strategies that respond to the natural forces of the site, taking a balanced approach that honors regional heritage and reflects Cal Poly Humboldt’s unique identity. The primary structural and aesthetic components include Exposed Mass Timber and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), which offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the new Engineering and Technology building. The design features curtain wall glazing paired with a rain screen or concrete envelope system, intentionally exposing the wood material to the rest of the campus and creating an inviting character.

Gateway Hall provides California State University, Channel Islands with a new “front door” that is a beautiful and welcoming space for both the campus and the surrounding community. The spaces provide innovative environments for learning, interaction, and collaboration. The project consolidates several departments and spaces into a centralized hub - providing a new building and renovated buildings that are intuitive, user-friendly, and easy to navigate.

The program for the new Gateway Hall provides approximately 80,000 SF of renovated existing facilities and new construction. The project will house campus admission, and a new “one-stop-shop” for student services, including financial aid, registrar, and advising. The new building will also house new general classrooms and departmental labs for math, computer sciences, and mechatronics. Lastly, the extended university will find a new home in renovated facilities; one that provides a new front door to the community. The project pulls together programs and occupants from across the campus into an interdisciplinary and integrated complex, putting the student and public community first.

Designed according to the mission style campus guidelines, the new building blends harmoniously into the contextual campus. Gateway Hall will greet all who arrive at the CSUCI campus with its welcoming façade. As a campus built in the Mission style, buildings were sited to define outdoor space. The new Gateway Hall building is sited to maintain that character. At the termination of University Drive, the visual corridor facing south towards the North Quad is preserved by siting Gateway Hall on the west side, in anticipation of a future theater to be located on the east side, and creating a paseo in between the two buildings. The Paseo serves as the main outdoor circulation through the Gateway site and into the North Quad and the rest of the campus. It is envisioned to have a leisurely quality as one moves through the site with Paseo-facing edges that are porous, providing visibility into interior activities. The Paseo has an entry plaza on its north end, giving a sense of arrival to the campus. The renovation of the historic structures gives new life to the old buildings, adapting the previous mental hospital into a welcoming university environment. The buildings were completed in August 2025.

The new Behavioral and Social Sciences building, which replaced Butte Hall on the Chico State University campus, creates a bookend for the campus’ east-west connection. The building massing is informed by the scale of the existing buildings, the programmatic elements, access to daylight, and accommodation of solar panels. This 94,000 gross square foot, design-build project with Turner Construction Company is a net zero energy building that co-locates several college resources to a common location and provides much needed study areas. The new building maximizes space usage, provides active learning environments, creates holistic work environments for faculty and staff, improves outdoor environments, and supports the health and wellness of all building occupants.⁠
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The building includes 22 general university classrooms, 1 large learning hall, various study and lounge spaces, 5 departmental instructional labs, and office spaces for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. The Behavioral and Social Sciences departments include Anthropology, Economics, Geography and Planning, Multi-Cultural and Gender Studies, Political Science and Criminal Justice, Public Health and Health Services Administration, Social Science, Social Work, and Sociology.⁠

The 44,450 SF Energy Innovation Building will be the central hub of research, experimentation, and collaboration on the future of energy in the San Joaquin Valley. The project will include research and teaching laboratories, a Capstone Design Laboratory, private/open offices, a flex-design event space, the Extended Education Global Outreach center, and an outdoor interactive space. The Energy Innovation Building will be tightly connected to its context, meeting the needs and desires of the talented and ambitious student body. Architecturally, it will seamlessly integrate with the existing campus, respecting its setting while representing a new era of energy and innovation at CSU Bakersfield. Environmentally, it will harmonize with the outdoors and the natural landscape, embodying sustainability design principles that align with the commitment to a greener, more resilient future. Communally, the design will be characterized by a welcoming spirit, creating a space where learning is not just a hidden pursuit but a visible and shared endeavor. In every aspect, this project will harness the potential of collaborative and inclusive design in order to move the region, and nation, forward with renewable energy research. With the Energy Innovation Building, CSU Bakersfield will be able to increase and promote robust industry partnerships, attract funding, facilitate faculty and student research, and engage the community. The Energy Innovation Building will solidify CSUB’s pivotal role in the future of energy solutions in the Valley and beyond.

Learn more on the CSU Bakersfield website.

The Autodesk Technology Engagement Center, which includes the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub, focuses on closing equity gaps in STEM degree pathways and inspiring historically underrepresented minorities in STEM to pursue high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

This 34,000 GSF project is powered by cutting-edge technology to advance collaboration and interdisciplinary design and research, including labs for engineering, prototype creation, pre-manufacture, and iterative design. Flexible space for interdisciplinary teams to collaborate, innovate, and incubate is included. The project also includes a campus and community maker-space as well as student showcase space to inspire student curiosity and creativity.

To propel student success, the Equity Innovation Hub includes a next generation student success center, student study and collaboration space, and a P-14 outreach discovery lab.  CSUN will use these spaces to  engage middle, high school, and community college students as well as families, to include a whole family outreach approach.

The project is uniquely designed with equity as a core design principle. AC Martin led a series of design workshops, meeting with university leadership, an interdisciplinary faculty and staff collaborative group, and a student focus group, to ensure the project design would achieve its goals to:

• Be welcoming and approachable to students and the community.
• Highlight & inspire interest in STEM professions, education, real-world applications & technology.
• Ensure diverse representation of historically underrepresented minorities.
• Create flexible spaces & adaptable design.

The Autodesk Technology Engagement Center provides a new, modern, state-of-the-art facility, creating a new identity for the College and University at a prominent campus location. Additional site improvements include outdoor gathering space, seating areas, and hands-on STEM activity areas.