Carnegie Mellon University unveils plans for a new science hall in Oakland

Carnegie Mellon University plans to open a new $252 million project in Oakland by 2027 and unveiled design plans for the new academic building on Monday.

The 338,900-square-foot building will host researchers and students from the Mellon College of Science and the university’s School of Computer Science, officials said. The seven-story tower will contain laboratories, offices, and other educational and collaborative spaces.

Called the Richard King Mellon Hall of Science, it will be located at the corner of South Craig Street and Forbes Street on the site of the surface parking lot. The project will include an underground parking garage with a capacity of 130 spaces.

Curtis A. said: “The Richard King Mellon Hall of Science will bring together some of the best that Carnegie Mellon has to offer: basic sciences, computer sciences and the arts,” said Dr. Mayer, interim dean of the Mellon College of Science. “This building will be the interface where these disciplines and the community can come together to learn and collaborate.”

A small plaza has been proposed in front of the building, and the ground floor takes design cues from the thistle – the national flower of Scotland – in a nod to university founder Andrew Carnegie and his Scottish heritage.

Unlike most Carnegie Mellon campuses, the new Science Hall will be integrated into many of Oakland’s businesses and organizations, officials said. Most of Carnegie Mellon’s campus is self-contained along Forbes Street near Morewood Street, but the new Science Hall will be adjacent to the popular South Craig Street business district and the Carnegie Museums.

The hall’s first floor will house the University Institute of Contemporary Art Pittsburgh, a museum showcasing works of culture, science, and technology.

The Hall of Science is one of several recent expansion projects at CMU, and other developments that have hit Oakland thanks to the growth of the University of Pittsburgh and local hospitals. Auckland is expected to see new development in the city, according to local experts.

It is currently tracking for LEED Gold certification, and will include features such as a green roof and heat recovery systems, according to the release.

The hall was funded in part by a $75 million grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The university said it is currently raising funds for the project, and plans to open it in the fall of 2027.