In 1997, NKU embarked upon a major expansion and capital improvement campaign in response to its emerging role as a regional center for higher education. The Herrmann Science Center then became the university's largest investment in a single building since its founding. Our team was challenged with designing a facility to accommodate flexibility for advancements in pedagogy and technology, specifically as it applies to laboratory courses. We accomplished this goal with a design that supports interdisciplinary teaching, integrated teaching, innovative design, adaptability, collaborative environments, undergraduate research, state-of-the-art technology, leadership in science education, industry partnerships, and outreach. With its combination of exceptional teaching and research spaces and undergrad-focused amenities, the facility soon became a major recruiting tool for NKU.

Twenty-three years later, the Omni Architects team is once again responding to the needs of the growing NKU campus and curriculum with an expansion to the facility we completed in 2002. Working in association with Flad Architects, we are appreciating the impact of the flexible design strategies we incorporated in the original facility. Through this expansion and the renovation of spaces within the existing building, the facility meets current instructional, pedagogical, and enrollment needs, accommodates new and emerging pedagogies, and creates enhanced spaces for existing programs. The ultimate goal is to gain as much functional space as possible while celebrating STEM, science, and NKU in an environment that activates interdisciplinary teaching, learning, and research.