Roux Institute at Northeastern University
Portland, ME
Portland, ME
The new Roux Institute at Northeastern University is a flagship learning, research and collaboration building designed for innovative educational programs in artificial intelligence, computer and data sciences, digital engineering, advanced life sciences, and medicine. The first program of its kind in the Northeast, the Roux Institute offers post-graduate degrees and certifications, conducts research, assists start-up entities, and partners with private, public, and non-profit entities to develop 21st century workforce talent and spur innovation. The dramatic design of the new Roux Institute is a remarkable juxtaposition of an architectural expression that embodies both the forward-looking, innovative vision of the Institute, while embracing the rugged, industrial landscape of Portland, Maine, and its authentic materials: granite, brick, copper, wood and glass.
The new academic building’s design is inspired by key material characteristics of Maine’s iconic Bailey Island Bridge – uniquely engineered with interlocking Yarmouth granite cribbing. The architecture’s powerful curvilinear form sweeps across the peninsula, rising dramatically at the center to reveal the Portal, which bridges the central circulation and gathering space, offering views to Casco Bay and access to the water’s edge. The lower volume comprises an artful use of granite and glass while the upper volume transitions to a more articulated façade of metal panel and glass reflecting Portland’s heritage of industrial architecture.
