Mountaintop Campus
The transformation of Bethlehem Steel’s abandoned R&D facility into a dynamic 21st-century learning environment has advanced Lehigh University’s engineering program. Page’s design fosters hands-on discovery, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and real-world problem-solving by recladding its crescent-shaped structure and reimagining high-bay research spaces.
The bold design preserves the original plant's openness and industrial character, fostering collaborative experimentation. High-bay makerspaces provide flexible environments for invention, while vibrant glass “mixing boxes” showcase exposed steel and mechanical systems. By strategically linking study, teaching, and fabrication areas, the building itself becomes a teaching tool for future engineers—creating an energetic, innovation-driven community.
On the east façade, deep vertical fins mitigate heat, frame shaded views, and establish a distinct identity. Flush glass lobbies and circulation areas increase transparency, invite engagement, and offer stunning views of nature.
This project demonstrates how design can create environments that both inspire creativity and build community.
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Dynamic “mixing box” insertions connect the original three-story crescent-shaped office and lab to high-bay research spaces, creating a seamless, collaborative environment. A linear addition along the quad provides a welcoming campus presence, while a cantilevered conference space offers stunning views of the Lehigh Valley. Home to the Computer Science Department’s Data X Initiative, the facility fuels experimentation, teamwork, and breakthrough thinking.
“There is an unleashing of student talent, we let them play, we let them explore, and they find a thrill in the ambiguity.”Alan SnyderFormer Lehigh University Vice President and Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies
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