Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex

The Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex was first proposed in the 2012 Northeastern University Institutional Master Plan (IMP) draft as a three phase, two building cluster on the existing Columbus lot, a surface parking lot.{{cite web |title=NU IMPNF 2012 |url=http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/a8f41929-bbd3-42fa-8bcf-dcd8ae1c9c5d |website=bostonplans.org |access-date=12 April 2020}} In the final 2013 version of the document, the complex had been revised to be a three building cluster with an option for a fourth, connected to the main campus by a bridge known as "The Arc".{{cite web |title=NU IMP Final 2013 |url=http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/a8f41929-bbd3-42fa-8bcf-dcd8ae1c9c5d |website=bostonplans.org |access-date=12 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Northeastern maps its plans for Columbus Avenue and Roxbury |url=http://archive.boston.com/yourcampus/news/northeastern/2013/11/northeastern_maps_its_plans_for_columbus_avenue_and_roxbury.html |website=Boston.com |access-date=12 April 2020 |language=en}} The first building proposed to be constructed in the IMP was known as the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB).{{cite web |title=Northeastern University to Expand with New Research Building |url=https://www.cpexecutive.com/post/northeastern-university-to-expand-with-new-research-building/ |website=www.cpexecutive.com |access-date=12 April 2020}}

In April 2013, Payette was selected as the result of an open design contest to design the first phase of ISEC.{{cite web |title=New Project at Northeastern University |url=https://www.payette.com/commissions/new-project-at-northeastern-university/ |access-date=12 April 2020 |date=1 April 2013}} Their design focused on an energy efficient building envelope, with a distinctive skin of fixed solar shielding reducing solar insolation.{{cite web |title=Payette Designs a Curvy Research Building, Parks for Boston's Northeastern University |url=https://archpaper.com/2013/12/payette-designs-a-curvy-research-building-parks-for-bostons-northeastern-university/ |website=Archpaper.com |access-date=12 April 2020 |date=12 December 2013}} The first building received Boston Planning & Development Agency Board approval in November 2013.{{cite web |title=PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONAL MASTER PLAN AND THE INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING BUILDING AS A DEVELOPMENT IMPACT PROJECT |url=http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/f48589b5-9a9d-45ff-ad40-ece294d0d7f9 |website=bostonplans.org |access-date=12 April 2020}} The building, now referred to in documents as ISEC, officially broke ground in February 2014, with a scheduled completion date in 2016.{{cite web |title=Northeastern breaks ground on state-of-the-art science and engineering complex |url=https://news.northeastern.edu/2014/02/24/isec-groundbreaking/ |website=news.northeastern.edu |access-date=12 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Northeastern Breaks Ground on New Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex |url=https://nuscimag.com/northeastern-breaks-ground-on-new-interdisciplinary-science-and-engineering-complex-f913bd0ba285 |website=Medium |access-date=12 April 2020 |language=en |date=30 September 2016}} Suffolk Construction was the primary contractor, with engineering provided by Arup Group and Vanasse Hangen Brustlin.{{cite web |title=Suffolk Completes Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex at Northeastern - High-Profile Boston - Northeastern University ushered in a new era of transformative research with the official opening of its Interdisciplinary Science and A, education, featured, Higher Education, ISEC, Northeastern University, p617 All |url=https://www.high-profile.com/suffolk-completes-interdisciplinary-science-engineering-complex-northeastern/ |website=High-Profile |access-date=12 April 2020 |date=25 May 2017}}{{cite web |title=VHB, Northeastern University Celebrate Project Milestone |url=https://www.vhb.com/Pages/news-detail.aspx?newsid=236 |website=www.vhb.com |access-date=12 April 2020}} The building was topped off in June 2016.

The building was materially complete and soft opened in January 2017.{{cite web |title=Northeastern University Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex Opens |url=https://www.architectmagazine.com/design/buildings/northeastern-university-interdisciplinary-science-and-engineering-complex-opens_o |website=www.architectmagazine.com |access-date=12 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex (ISEC) at Northeastern University |url=https://www.bldup.com/projects/interdisciplinary-science-and-engineering-complex |website=BLDUP |access-date=12 April 2020}} The official grand opening took place on April 4, 2017.{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Colin A. |title=Northeastern University formally opens $225 million science, engineering facility - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/03/northeastern-formally-opens-million-science-engineering-complex/sU5XHLlAzGzicr7AbiWD0I/story.html |website=BostonGlobe.com |access-date=12 April 2020}} Researchers, students, faculty, administrators, and executives of various research institutions attended the grand opening along with a protesting student environmental group, DivestNU.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huntnewsnu.com/2017/04/politicians-student-demonstrators-turn-out-for-isec-opening/|title=Politicians, student demonstrators turn out for ISEC opening|date=2017-04-04|work=The Huntington News|access-date=2017-11-28|language=en-US}}

In 2018 the building was awarded the Harleston Parker Medal by the Boston Society of Architects, recognizing it as one of the most beautiful buildings in Boston.{{cite web |title=Harleston Parker Medal |url=https://www.architects.org/harleston-parker-medal |website=Boston Society for Architecture |access-date=12 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Northeastern has the 'most beautiful' building in Boston |url=https://news.northeastern.edu/2019/02/11/northeastern-has-the-most-beautiful-building-in-boston/ |website=news.northeastern.edu |access-date=12 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex — BSA Design Awards {{!}} Boston Society of Architects |url=http://designawards.architects.org/projects/harleston-parker-medal/interdisciplinary-science-and-engineering-complex-3/ |access-date=12 April 2020}}

File:ISEC Pedestrian Bridge Installation.jpg

The rail corridor that serves Amtrak, the Orange Line, and commuter trains makes walking or biking from one side to the other difficult, effectively isolating Northeastern's main campus from the Roxbury neighborhood. To combat this issue, the designers of ISEC included a new public pedestrian bridge that extends from an ISEC to the central campus of Northeastern, with accommodations for pedestrians and cyclists.{{cite web |title=A Curved Walkway Highlights University’s Building Project {{!}} ASCE |url=https://www.asce.org/magazine/20140204-a-curved-walkway-highlights-university-s-building-project/ |website=www.asce.org |access-date=12 April 2020 |archive-date=12 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412185839/https://www.asce.org/magazine/20140204-a-curved-walkway-highlights-university-s-building-project/ |url-status=dead}} Construction of the 317 foot bridge began in Fall 2017 and was expected to finish in late 2018.{{cite web |title=New England City Scoop: Construction Starts in Boston |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/46912-new-england-city-scoop-construction-starts-in-boston |website=www.enr.com |access-date=4 October 2019 |language=en}} The bridge was lifted into place in October 2018,{{cite web |title=Payette-led Bridge Spans Rail Corridor to Unite Northeastern's Campus |url=https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13674-payette-led-bridge-spans-rail-corridor-to-unite-northeasterns-campus?v=preview |website=www.architecturalrecord.com |access-date=4 October 2019 |language=en}} a revised timeline stated the bridge would open in Q1 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://news.northeastern.edu/2018/10/14/a-new-boston-landmark-arises/|title=An engineering feat completed as Northeastern pedestrian bridge that will unite Boston campus is raised|website=news.northeastern.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-26}} The bridge opened to the public in June 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://huntnewsnu.com/59331/campus/isec-footbridge-opens-to-mixed-response/|title=ISEC footbridge opens to mixed response|last=Schwartz|first=Deanna|date=2019-06-04|website=The Huntington News|access-date=2019-06-26}} The bridge received critical acclaim for its unique weathering steel design and lighting design.{{cite web |last1=McKnight |first1=Jenna |title=Payette creates sinuous bridge with weathering steel walls over rail tracks in Boston |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2019/09/14/pedx-payette-bridge-northeastern-university/ |website=Dezeen |access-date=4 October 2019 |language=en |date=14 September 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Lentz |first1=Linda |title=ISEC Pedestrian Crossing at Northeastern University by Payette and Arup |url=https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14864-isec-pedestrian-crossing-at-northeastern-university-by-payette-and-arup |website=www.architecturalrecord.com |access-date=24 November 2020 |language=en}} The bridge was seeking Envision certification from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure,{{cite web |title=LGA Terminal B Redevelopment Receives First Envision Platinum Award |url=https://metroairportnews.com/laguardia-airport-terminal-b-redevelopment-skanska/ |website=Metropolitan Airport News |access-date=4 October 2019 |date=21 August 2019}} and received an Envision Bronze award for sustainable infrastructure in April 2020.{{cite web |title=ISEC Pedestrian Bridge |url=https://sustainableinfrastructure.org/project-awards/isec-pedestrian-bridge/ |website=Institute For Sustainable Infrastructure |access-date=16 July 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Carothers |first1=Luke |title=Skanska Awarded Prestigious Envision® Certification for Sustainable Construction of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex (ISEC) Pedestrian Bridge at Northeastern University |url=https://csengineermag.com/skanska-awarded-prestigious-envision-certification-for-sustainable-construction-of-interdisciplinary-science-and-engineering-complex-isec-pedestrian-bridge-at-northeastern-university/ |website=Civil + Structural Engineer magazine |access-date=16 July 2020 |date=20 April 2020}} The bridge received the 2020 Engineering News-Record New England Award of Merit for Bridges,{{cite web |title=Award of Merit Highway/Bridge and Safety Award of Merit: Northeastern University ISEC Pedestrian Crossing |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/50677-award-of-merit-highwaybridge-and-safety-award-of-merit-northeastern-university-isec-pedestrian-crossing |website=www.enr.com |access-date=24 November 2020 |language=en}} and won a Design Honor award from the Boston Society of Landscape Architects.{{cite web |title=Boston Society of Landscape Architects – Announcing the 2020 BSLA Design Award Winners! |url=https://bslanow.org/uncategorized/announcing-the-2020-bsla-design-award-winners/ |access-date=24 November 2020}}

The original 2013 Institutional Master Plan that proposed ISEC included three buildings in the complex.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/ed54a85f-8e13-4826-b1a6-2728a9604e20|title=Boston Campus Institutional Master Plan|date=2013-11-19|website=BPDA}} In May 2019, Northeastern proposed a single second building that would complete the complex, EXP, with plans to begin construction in early 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://news.northeastern.edu/2019/06/11/northeastern-university-to-construct-new-research-building-to-support-universitys-work-in-autonomous-vehicles-drones-humanoid-robots-and-more/|title=Northeastern University to construct new research building to support university's work in autonomous vehicles, drones, humanoid robots, and more|last=Sarwari|first=Khalida|last2=Thomsen|first2=Ian|date=2019-06-11|website=News@Northeastern|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-26}} The 350,000 sq ft new building was anticipated to take three years to complete and includes dynamic research spaces for driverless cars and humanoid robots.{{cite web |last1=Carlock |first1=Catherine |title=Northeastern proposes second science, engineering complex |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2019/05/07/northeastern-proposes-second-science-engineering.html |website=Boston Business Journal |access-date=4 October 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.universalhub.com/2019/new-northeastern-building-would-include-space|title=New Northeastern building would include space for improving driverless cars - and building humanoid robots that could ride in them|last=Gaffin|first=Adam|date=2019-05-28|website=Universal Hub|access-date=2019-06-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/boston/2019/05/proposed-northeastern-building-would-house-innovative-hub-to-research-driverless-cars-humanoid-robots.html|title=Proposed Northeastern building would house innovative hub to research driverless cars, 'humanoid robots'|last=LaFratta|first=Kristin|date=2019-05-30|website=masslive.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-26}} The building was approved by the Boston Planning and Development Agency in October 2019.{{cite web |title=NU EXP Gets the Green Light From BPDA |url=https://www.bldup.com/posts/nu-exp-gets-the-green-light-from-bpda |website=Bldup |access-date=18 October 2019}} Construction began in early 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction continued in August 2020,{{Cite web|title=EXP construction|url=https://news.northeastern.edu/2020/08/03/exp-construction/|access-date=2020-08-09|website=news.northeastern.edu|language=en-US}} with an estimated construction cost of $218,245,000.{{cite web |title=Boston Employment Commission Project Review - Northeastern EXP |url=https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2021/03/Northeastern%20EXP_March2021BECReport%28PRNO%29.pdf |website=Boston.gov |access-date=18 April 2022}} The building opened in Fall 2023.{{Cite web |title=Payette's New EXP Building is Designed for Research and Built to Perform |url=https://metropolismag.com/projects/payette-new-exp-building-in-northeastern-university/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Metropolis |language=en-US}}

ISEC has 6 stories consisting of labs, classrooms, offices, conference rooms, and research facilities. The first floor consists of two 50-seat lecture halls, two 50-seat active learning classrooms, a bicycle storage room, a 24-seat biomaterials teaching lab, a cafe, and a 280-seat auditorium. The building also has a central atrium which extends through all 6 floors and contains the main spiral staircase. Floors 2–5 house an array of experimental labs on the rectangular half of the building and contain offices and conference rooms on the rounded half of the building across the atrium. The 6th floor is structurally similar to floors 2–5, but house computational research facilities in place of the laboratories. The north corner of floors 3–6 contain a computational research room, and floor 2 has a lab classroom in the same corner.

The ISEC building was constructed for collaboration and research. The central body of the building consists of a large atrium that extends from the ground floor to the six-story ceiling. Much of the research space which borders this main atrium is completely visible to observers, allowing for high levels of transparency between the public and different disciplines. Open spaces of collaboration and "research on display" define much of the complex.{{cite web |title=Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex – Payette |url=https://www.world-architects.com/en/architecture-news/reviews/interdisciplinary-science-and-engineering-complex |website=World-Architects |access-date=12 April 2020 |language=en}}

ISEC was constructed on an urban brownfield site that was formerly a parking lot set between the Columbus Ave and Renaissance Park Garages.{{Cite web|url=https://www.payette.com/project/interdisciplinary-science-and-engineering-complex/|title=Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex – Payette|website=www.payette.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-29}} The building achieved a LEED Gold certification in 2018, using 78% less energy than a traditional lab building.{{cite web |title=Northeastern University ISEC Earns LEED Gold – Payette |url=https://www.payette.com/news/northeastern-university-isec-earns-leed-gold/ |access-date=24 November 2020 |language=en}} The building also has a rainwater retention system that harvests rainwater and uses it to supply 57% of the flushing needs in the building.{{cite web |title=Rainwater Harvesting at ISEC |url=https://facilities.northeastern.edu/rainwater-reclamation-isec/ |website=facilities.northeastern.edu |access-date=24 November 2020}}

The Boston Globe noted that the completion of the ISEC facility was the culmination of a major shift in the culture, history, and trajectory of Northeastern University.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/art/2017/08/17/isec-building-emblem-new-era-northeastern/enkFPPz6ICqTFGH34ENpYI/story.html|title=ISEC building emblem of new era at Northeastern |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=2017-11-29}} In the past ten years, the university's federal research funding has more than doubled, to the current $130 million a year, and Northeastern has hired 565 new tenured and tenure-track faculty in disciplines directly tied to its research goals since the 2006–2007 academic year. The ISEC building represented a $225 million piece of the $1.6 billion master plan for development proposed by Northeastern to the Boston Planning & Development Agency in November 2013.

The complex has housed a variety of major research projects. The Human-centered robotics research group develops robots and assistive devices. In partnership with NASA, researchers are programming a 6'2" humanoid, Valkyrie, to explore Mars as soon as 2030, ahead of human explorers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.northeastern.edu/isec/|title=Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Complex (ISEC) |publisher=Northeastern University|access-date=2017-11-29|language=en-US}} This project represents a collaborative effort between Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, and NASA's Johnson Space Center.{{Cite web|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/nasa-awards-r5-valkyrie-robots-to-mit-and-northeastern|title=NASA Awards R5 Valkyrie Robots to MIT and Northeastern|publisher=IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News|language=en|access-date=2017-11-29}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://www.payette.com/project/interdisciplinary-science-and-engineering-complex/ Payette Project Page]
• [https://www.bldup.com/projects/interdisciplinary-science-and-engineering-complex BLDUP Construction Photos]

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Category:Northeastern University buildings

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Category:Buildings and structures in Boston

Category:Modernist architecture in Massachusetts

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