Education   /   Lake Erie College

Lake Erie College Austin Hall of Science

Painesville, Ohio    map
Status: Complete

Westlake Reed Leskosky completed a feasibility study for the renovation and re-imaging of the Austin Hall of Science in 2007. Built in 1963, the existing building is a steel and concrete structure with pre-cast concrete exterior wall panels of a modern design. The goals for the renovation include: changing the exterior appearance of the building to better fit the traditional architecture of the campus; making the building a model of environmentally-responsible design; and implementing interior upgrades to support a state-of-the-art science education program.

Upon completion of the study, Westlake Reed Leskosky was retained for the full renovation and re-imaging of the Austin Hall of Science. The building has been stripped down to the bare structure, and re-built to provide modern classroom and laboratory spaces. On the exterior, the pre-cast concrete panels have been removed and a new exterior wall of red brick, double-hung windows, and stone details was constructed to complement the aesthetic of nearby college buildings. On the interior, the lecture hall, classrooms, laboratories, restrooms, and offices have been re-built and upgraded to serve the college's chemistry, math, environmental science, and pre-veterinarian programs. A new elevator provides handicapped accessibility as well as ease of transporting supplies to all floors of the building. The center area of each floor is an open common area for students and faculty to gather, relax, and share information in an informal setting. The project also included all new furnishings, lab tables, and lab hoods.