Perkins + Will Designs FIU Complex for the Research of Extreme Natural Events

Florida International University’s Stempel Complex, designed by Perkins + Will, will be completed this month. The complex will house the Extreme Event Institute, which will bring together a number of the university’s research and academic programs to study “extreme natural events.” The form of the building itself takes inspiration from natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, and is centered around an oval-shaped courtyard.

This central courtyard space is largely open to the nearby university quad and provides natural light to the many classroom and research spaces located on the upper stories.  The upper floors are offset slightly, providing shading to the windows of the south and west facades, while the east façade has a precast concrete shading fin system.

The Stempel Complex will host teaching space and laboratories for programs such as FIU’s Behavioral Health Research and Clinical Labs, the International Hurricane Research Center, and Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work.  It is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification.  Cost of construction is estimated to be about $31.7 million.

Architects: Perkins + Will
Location: Miami, FL, USA
Architect In Charge: Pat Bosch
Area: 119000.0 ft2
Year: 2014
Photographs: Courtesy of Perkins + Will