University of California Santa Barbara Bioengineering Building

For the University of California at Santa Barbara, Moore Ruble Yudell designed a multi-disciplinary Bioengineering Building to serve the growing intersection between engineering and the life sciences in higher education.

Within the project, dry, computational laboratory space is balanced with traditional wet laboratories that are served by an extensive array of equipment and procedure support space. These functions are complemented by administrative suites for defined research groups headquartered within the building.

Envisioned as a hub, or “collision-space,” for the scientific community at UCSB, the site anchors the intersection of two primary campus circulation routes and is centrally placed within the science and engineering district. Initiated through an extensive programming phase, the design embraces its important site while providing three floors of interdisciplinary research labs anchored by a three-level atrium and 100-seat auditorium

The project was developed through an integrated design approach leading to LEED Platinum certification without incurring added cost. Extensive use of natural ventilation, daylighting, and active chilled beam technologies, all support ambitious goals around environmental responsibility.

Housing the Center for Bioengineering (CBE) and the Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies (IBC), the new facility comes as new bioengineering research is transforming everything from pandemic research and diagnosis to how drugs are delivered within the body. Already a leader in bioengineering teaching and research and host to more than 100 researchers, UCSB now has the state-of-the-art facility to further expand its work in this field and offer closer collaboration with industry partners.