University of Michigan's Biological Science Building, located in Ann Arbor, completes a new “Science Neighborhood” for the University and a significant campus crossroads. The innovative project houses both a state-of-the-art biological science program and a museum of natural history, merging research, classroom, and public exhibition space. Exhibit galleries weave through the building’s three research towers and two shared atrium spaces, providing the public with a glimpse into cutting-edgeresearch and laboratory areas. This facilitates exciting new opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching and collaboration while providing museum visitors with a richer experience. 

The building’s primary enclosure system is a unitized curtain wall featuring opaque units with custom profile terra-cotta rain screen cladding. The extruded terra-cotta profiles are provided in a series of complementary traditional clay colors and finishes – combined with extruded terra-cotta fins mounted in front of portions of glazing to create a brise-soleil. The variety of color and texture activates the opaque areas of the building and blurs the edges and extents of the vision areas. 

In contrast to the opaque terra-cotta volumes, the two glazed atriums connecting the laboratory spaces feature a minimized profile steel plate framing system with flat and curved insulated glass units at the south elevation. The system is hung from the expressed steel truss at the top of the space and braced laterally back to precast bridges traversing the atrium spaces. 

The project also features a glazed storefront system with limestone pillars and skylights.

Heintges provided building envelope consulting services during design phases.