As a public liberal arts college, MCLA plays an important role in educating tomorrow’s workforce in biotechnology, nanotechnology, engineering, and health care, fields of vital economic importance to the state. The new, unified interdisciplinary facility will promote research-intensive, discovery-based learning and serve as a community resource. The three-story building, 65,000-gross-square-foot will house nine flexible laboratories and research space for Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, the Berkshire Environmental Resource Center (BERC), and a start-up lab. A rooftop outdoor classroom and greenhouse will extend the learning environment, displaying and promoting sustainability. Classrooms are designed to support collaborative, hands-on learning. This project represents an extraordinary investment in public higher education and the economic development of Berkshire County. The project has a goal of LEED Silver Certification.