Brookhaven Lab Science and User Support Center

Across the country, research institutions are rethinking how their campuses engage with the public, industry, and academic partners. Historically insular environments are evolving into more open, collaborative ecosystems that foster innovation and economic development. Aging infrastructure and dispersed facilities compound the challenge, limiting efficiency and the user experience. For Brookhaven National Laboratory — one of the nation’s premier research institutions — the moment called for a facility that could serve as a catalyst for interdisciplinary work and a gateway to attract global talent.

The Science and User Support Center establishes a modern, centralized gateway at Brookhaven that consolidates visitor services, administrative functions, and collaboration spaces into a single, cohesive facility. The building features a glass-enclosed atrium, flexible conference environments, and open workplaces designed to encourage interaction. Positioned near the freeway at the campus edge, the center serves as a welcoming anchor to the 60-acre public-private Discovery Park along Long Island’s innovation corridor.

The center transforms the arrival experience for scientists and visitors, replacing a fragmented process with a seamless, one-stop destination. By consolidating operations from scattered outdated facilities, it improves efficiency, enhances collaboration, and reduces the campus’ energy footprint. The project catalyzes future development of the Discovery Park campus, strengthens regional economic growth, and positions the laboratory as a more open, connected, and forward-looking institution.