Next-Gen STEM

The Interdisciplinary Science Building (ISB) at Western Washington University (WWU) in Bellingham, Washington is a next-generation interdepartmental STEM building. Within the facility, ISB supports modern teaching laboratories for the Huxley College of the Environment, the College of Science and Engineering, and the new interdisciplinary Marine and Coastal Science program. ISB is intentionally transparent inside and out, putting science and learning on display to inspire an interactive environment with active learning classrooms, teaching labs, and student collaboration areas. A communicating stair activates teamwork and collaboration throughout the building.


Adaptable Teaching Spaces

Modern STEM teaching laboratories include dedicated labs for general chemistry, general biology, and flexible interdisciplinary teaching labs shared between departments. These wet science laboratories are designed to be adaptable for research or departmental growth and include flexible lab support spaces for current and future needs. Two of the flex labs will support molecular biology and biochemistry but are designed to allow future programs or research to use the spaces with minimal changes to the lab configuration. These informal learning and collaboration spaces are located on all floors, connected via a concrete communicating stair, complementing the active learning classrooms and laboratories in their STEM mission.