
Completed: 2018
Thoughtfully designed to address Utah State University’s growing demand for foundational biology courses, the Noelle E. Cockett Life Sciences Building is a flagship facility on the Logan campus. In conjunction with the adjacent Biology & Natural Resources Building, the LSB supports the science learning community and stands as a LEED Gold-certified example of sustainable and innovative design.
The building offers a dynamic mix of spaces tailored to inspire learning and foster discovery. Key features include a 350-seat lecture hall, 13 teaching laboratories, collaborative research labs, an outdoor teaching laboratory garden, and over 5,000 square feet of student study areas. The design integrates a five-story laboratory research tower with advanced vibration control alongside a four-story classroom and office wing that houses faculty offices, graduate student workspaces, and an interactive central commons. An informal atrium and on-site café provide additional opportunities for collaboration and connection, fostering a comfortable and inspiring environment.
The exterior cladding system blends brick, glass fiber-reinforced concrete panels, metal panels, and glass curtain wall to create a modern, enduring presence on campus. Distinctive features include a grand stair with precast concrete treads and a striking 30-foot art glass installation entitled Surface Tension. The building’s structural system was engineered to meet rigorous seismic standards, employing steel buckling-restrained braced frames in an innovative way to balance strength, stiffness, and architectural integration — ensuring the facility will serve students, faculty, and the broader community for generations.