The Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology at Penn, slated to begin construction in March 2022, will be even better equipped to meet the future needs of energy research and development thanks to an additional $20 million gift from P. Roy Vagelos, C’50, PAR’90, HON’99, and Diana T. Vagelos, PAR’90.
An initial Vagelos family donation in 2019 kicked off the project. Their latest contribution will allow the building’s design to expand from six to seven stories, which will accommodate growth of the energy research program including additional faculty hires in the future.
We are so grateful to Roy and Diana for their enduring support of Penn’s groundbreaking research in the area of energy research and sustainable energy solutions.”Penn President Amy Gutmann
Critical to the University’s commitment to advancing research in energy and sustainability, the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology is a key component of The Power of Penn Arts & Science Campaign. The 111,000 square foot facility will be located at 3200 Walnut Street and designed by Behnisch Architekten, with an estimated completion date of fall 2024.
Steven J. Fluharty, Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences and Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Professor of Psychology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, said the new construction aligns with the School’s strategic goals for work around energy, sustainability, and the environment. “We have steadily built on investments in energy science,” said Fluharty, “including faculty hiring and establishing the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology in 2016. This plan for a world-class facility was made possible through the continued generosity of Roy and Diana Vagelos.”
The project is a collaborative undertaking by Penn Arts & Sciences and Penn Engineering, and will bring together researchers from both schools to solve scientific and technological problems related to energy. The Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology will also house the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER), an undergraduate dual degree program run jointly by Arts & Sciences and Engineering.
Modern design features in the new building will include safe and appropriate airflows, energy efficient radiant heating and cooling system, and eastern and western facades utilizing shading devices to cut off solar angles amplifying sunlight and minimizing glare on the building. The western façade will have triangular elements angled to preserve views of the Palestra. “The project reinforces Penn’s position as one of the premier energy research and technology centers in the nation,” said Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering.
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