This new building, constructed on an undeveloped site near the heart of the campus, contains facilities for the Department of Physics and Astronomy. It replaces outdated and deteriorated space in three other buildings on campus and provides space for classrooms, lecture halls, teaching labs, research labs, instrument shops and offices for faculty, researchers, staff, graduate students and administrators.

The building has one usable floor below grade and three above grade. A mechanical penthouse occupies the fourth floor. The floors are organized with teaching and research labs on the east perimeter and offices and classrooms on the west. A linear atrium, located between these two functional zones, is infused with daylight entering from clerestory windows located at the fourth floor and passing through openings in the upper floors. A variety of gathering spaces are situated along the length of the atrium to encourage social interaction, collaboration and informal learning.