Steidle Building
Page’s reimagination of the Steidle Building helped launch Penn State’s Materials Science and Engineering program into a new era of research excellence. By removing a 1939 renovation, seamlessly integrating a new infill, and revitalizing the original footprint, the redesign transforms the building into a catalyst for science and discovery—enhancing its functionality and connection to the research within.
The expanded facility organizes research into flexible, thematic clusters, accelerating breakthroughs in synthetic compounds and new materials. A vertically stacked, light-filled lab block enables collaboration while floor-to-ceiling glass panels provide visibility into pioneering discoveries.
Designed for sustainability and performance, the LEED Silver-certified building reduces energy use while optimizing research processes. By blending state-of-the-art labs with modernized historic spaces, Steidle is now a premier destination for materials research, empowering Penn State’s scientists to shape the future.
Awards
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Illumination Award for Lighting Control Innovation, Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
The research clusters are designed to advance work in metallurgy, ceramics, polymers, batteries, medical materials, and additive manufacturing. Graduate students and professors collaborate seamlessly on upper levels, moving between labs and reflection spaces. Below, undergraduates engage in hands-on learning, gaining insight into the advancements happening just above them.
Lab modernization
This renovated building houses Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE), metallurgy, ceramics, and polymers labs, energy storage labs, additive manufacturing labs, collaboration areas, and classrooms.
Initially built in 1931 with a U-shaped design, the building expanded in 1939 with a central wing—an addition that, decades later, limited flexibility and daylight access. Strategic analysis revealed removing the 1939 wing would unlock space for a larger, high-performance section, seamlessly integrating adaptable, technology-rich research spaces while repurposing the original 1931 footprint for less intensive functions.
While the historic exterior remains intact, the interior is fully modernized, with upgraded systems, enhanced accessibility, and improved life safety features that ensure longevity. The renovation transforms once-dark, enclosed labs into light-filled, collaborative research clusters that foster interdisciplinary teamwork. A skylit atrium now draws daylight deep into the interior, creating an energized, highly visible environment.
With 42% annual energy savings over the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 baseline, this renovation is as sustainable as it is forward-thinking—preserving Penn State’s history while propelling materials science research into the future.
Sustainable design
Through collaborative charettes, we rigorously tested, refined, and optimized systems to maximize energy efficiency. A comprehensive metering infrastructure compares actual and expected energy performance, enabling data-driven decisions to sustain peak efficiency for decades.
Science on display
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