The Paradise Valley Community College Life Science Building represents a vision of what science can be for the community – a catalyst. Since its construction the building and site have become an area landmark and a focus of use by biotechnology firms, universities, and private partners and has led to an over 40% increase in enrollment for science programs in its first year of operation.

The building is located at the edge of an existing 1970s era campus, between a series of low slung one-story masonry buildings to the north, a campus ring road on the west, and vacant desert to the east that is planned to be the future campus green. Site design is inextricably linked to building design. Arterial walkways of the existing campus are extended through the new building, enhancing the campus community on all sides. On the east the walkway becomes a pedestrian bridge, floating lightly above the desert landscape – visually and physically uniting the building to the campus to the north and extending it to future campus expansion that is planned south of the ring road. A large roof canopy and collaboration pods are a dynamic public Portico which defines the edge of the future campus green, and create an important public space for the campus and surrounding community. The collaboration pods include power, data and blackboards. The sloped roof shades the glazed east façade and collects rainwater which is directed to two large vertical collectors serving an underground cistern that is designed to provide for irrigation.

Innovative planning is modular and flexible with a lab zone on the 1st floor in an L shape connecting to a lab support zone, all primary mechanical directly above the lab support zone to minimize shafts, and a light filled office and instructional zone on the 2nd floor. Sustainable features include rainwater harvesting, xeriscape landscape, recycled content materials, and materials that need little maintenance including concrete floors and copper panels.