The $120 million facility will expand science research, teaching and interdisciplinary collaboration at one of New Jersey’s leading public research universities.
Montclair State University has broken ground on a $120 million Interdisciplinary Science Building designed by HOK, marking a major investment in STEM education, research and collaboration on the university’s campus in Montclair, New Jersey. The 110,000-sq.-ft. facility is expected to open at the start of the 2028-29 academic year.
The building will help expand the university’s chemistry, physics and interdisciplinary science programs with new teaching and research labs, technology-rich classrooms, faculty workspaces, student lounges, huddle spaces and an event venue. The project is supported in part by a $60 million capital facilities grant from the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
HOK’s design positions the building as a new hub for interdisciplinary learning and discovery. The ground floor will include a virtual classroom, 360-degree projection studio, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) lab, advanced computing facilities, collaborative commons and a 100-seat flexible lecture and event space. These environments are designed to support both formal instruction and the informal collaboration that drives scientific inquiry across disciplines.
The second and third floors will house high-performance teaching and research spaces for the chemistry and physics departments, and the fourth floor will include customizable space that can accommodate a partnering organization, along with a rooftop terrace with views of the New York City skyline.
Planned features include the Imaginarium, an ultra-flexible space for data analysis and immersive visualization, and an indoor-outdoor classroom connected to the outdoor event space and plaza. Designed to meet LEED Silver standards, the building will include solar energy harvesting, a native rain garden, a native bioswale and a dry stream bed.
The project reflects a collaborative planning process with Montclair State University leadership, deans, department chairs and facilities planners, including programming and visioning sessions to inform the building’s design and align the program with the university’s goals for enrollment growth, faculty recruitment and research output.
“This building is a powerful expression of Montclair State University’s commitment to STEM education, environmental stewardship and interdisciplinary collaboration,” says John MacCallum, AIA, senior project designer at HOK. “Its advanced teaching and research environments are complemented by open, collaborative spaces that encourage discovery beyond the lab. The new plaza will serve as an important campus node where students and faculty connect, exchange ideas and extend learning beyond the classroom.”
Located at a key intersection of the university’s pedestrian core, the Interdisciplinary Science Building will strengthen Montclair State University’s academic infrastructure while creating a highly visible new gateway for science and innovation on campus. HOK’s design organizes the building as two interconnected volumes linked by a central collaboration zone, blending modern transparency and materials with elements inspired by the Spanish Mission Revival architecture of the campus.
When complete, the building is expected to triple the available on-campus science lab space, further advancing Montclair State University’s role in expanding access to STEM education and research. The university currently graduates more minority STEM students than any other institution in New Jersey and is an R2 High Research Activity institution.
HOK provided architecture, interiors, lab planning, programming and sustainable design services for the project.