The Sciences and Engineering Laboratories at SDSU Imperial Valley, Brawley supports the burgeoning Lithium Valley and the university’s commitment to workforce development in both current and future geothermal energy sector demands through new four-year degree programs. The 36,000 square foot lab facility houses a STEM Innovation Hub, undergraduate science labs, core facilities, and collaborative spaces for public and private partners to work side by side with faculty and students in lithium research. The new building creates a sense of place and identity for the campus in Brawley, California.

The architectural vernacular embraces sustainability and resilient strategies derived from site specific climate and regional heritage. The design includes open collaboration spaces inside and sheltered outdoor spaces with a solar photovoltaic canopy to provide comfortable areas for students to hang out before, between and after classes. As one the most lab intensive SDSU facilities, incorporating flexibility and adaptability for future changes in STEM research is paramount in the design. By addressing the demands of intense science research and incorporating architectural sensibility that acknowledges the low-desert climatic environs and cultural heritage of the area, this project is a beacon of STEM learning in Brawley.

The project aims to double the enrollment of the SDSU Imperial Valley campus, delivering the future leaders of economic and employment opportunity brought by the development of the State’s Lithium Valley initiative. The project is a result of $80 million in state funding from Governor Gavin Newsom and university investments to expand STEM opportunities.