Yale’s Science Hill has been revitalized into a new social and cultural hub, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding architecture through a broad, inviting commons that opens to Prospect Street. The Science Plaza orchestrates movement and offers shaded, intimate spaces for relaxation and socializing, built atop new physics laboratories and an existing library, elegantly navigating the elevation changes for building access and campus connectivity. Since its opening, Science Plaza has become one of the most popular campus destinations among students, faculty and staff.

The project brought to life the vision for Science Hill & Upper Prospect, previously articulated by Reed Hilderbrand, connecting new and existing facilities with accessible paths, embracing the topography, and capturing hillside views. The North-South Corridor, flanking the West side of the site, embodies a first step of a larger campus mobility strategy.

Reinterpreting a plaza formed by the intersection of modernist and gothic revival buildings, the design includes walks, lawns, and gardens that enhance accessibility and ease of movement between facilities. The twin gardens on either side of the plaza support both solitary and communal activities through thoughtful landscaping and urban tree canopies, making the scale of the facilities more intimate and comfortable.

Work completed while employed at Reed Hilderbrand; Adrian Fehrmann was the Project Manager from Schematic Design through Construction Observation.