Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies

The Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D. Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies is a research facility at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

The current director of the center is Juergen Hahn, succeeding Deepak Vashishth, Jonathan Dordick, and Robert Palazzo.

Ground was broken on May 17, 2002 for the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies as part of the Rensselaer Plan, a $400 million campus improvement project.

Mark Mistur, an associate professor of architecture, along with Rittelmann, designed the course thinking it “would be a wonderful opportunity for students to see the whole process, including the struggles and successes that result when architects and engineers work together.”[6] The course brought students through the entire process of constructing a building.

Topics of the course included everything from the physical construction and design processes of the building to the legal issues associated with such a large project.

[6] In an effort to blend the new facility with its historical surroundings, the 15th Street façade was designed to match the red brick construction of the Quadrangle residence hall.

This side of the building showcases the glass atrium and includes a large open grass area with walkways, benches, and outdoor lighting.