Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

Bringing together the departments of Computer Science, Information Science, and Statistics and Data Science for the first time, the new Cornell Bowers College of Computing and Information Science creates both a precinct and a destination for the university’s rapidly growing computing and information science programs.

Located at the southern gateway to the Ithaca campus and adjacent to one of its world-famous gorges, the new Bowers CIS shapes a precinct of continuous building and open space. The angled “L” configuration of the new building connects to Gates Hall, completed in 2014 by Morphosis, forming an outdoor room for daily use, small gatherings and large ceremonies. With its sheltered green space and covered terraces along the building’s edge, it is a magnet attracting students from multiple disciplines across the university. Its several entries and courtyard opening toward the adjacent Engineering complex make Bowers CIS a compelling new presence on the campus. A ribbon of faceted sculptural metal fins wrapping the upper research floors, designed with advanced digital modeling tools, give the building its identity. Four configurations of folded metal panels are combined to create a wave-like pattern with changing shadows as the sun moves around the building. At the main entry end, a dramatic cantilever shields an overlook terrace adjacent to the indoor café inviting the campus in.

The ground floor is a lively and engaging destination, particularly for undergraduates. A student “ramble” along the courtyard edge provides places for individual and small group study, while the café, Commons, large interactive classroom, design lab, and a series of large builder labs encourage students to collaborate. With its generous ceiling height and canopy of wood slats, the ground floor spaces are dynamic, warm, and welcoming.

The upper floors dedicated to quiet research with offices and small computational labs are planned in structural modules so that labs can expand or contract over time. Research clusters include computational labs, conference/collaborative spaces, and offices. Conceived as a “skinny” building to avoid interior offices and labs, the workspaces all have generous daylight. Color at conference rooms and exposed Cross Laminated Timber ceilings in labs and offices bring warmth and floor identity to these essential spaces. The two research wings of the building are joined by a suite of collaborative spaces on each floor and by a monumental stair. In vertically connected pairs of floors, these nodes contain social spaces, kitchen/casual dining, and large meeting rooms. A continuous wall plane through all floors in vivid Yves Klein Blue and CLT wood ceilings lend dynamism, comfort, and delight to the off-screen moments of the researchers’ day.

Bowers CIS integrated sustainability systems convey Cornell’s commitment to environmental stewardship, energy conservation, and healthy environments. Multiple strategies include framing upper floors in steel with Cross Laminated Timber floor and roof slabs for carbon reduction (the first CLT use at Cornell), narrow building configuration for maximum daylight to all occupied spaces, high performance building envelope, chilled beams and radiant panels for energy conservation, and bioswales for stormwater management.