A Research Lab in the Trees: The Nature of Tulane’s Deeply Sited Building

As the first new academic building on Tulane’s campus in 25 years, Paul Hall serves as the catalyst propelling collaborative theme-based and entrepreneurial research across the University. The design solution for Paul Hall floats an articulated brick volume of framed and folded apertures housing research laboratories, faculty offices and student lounges above a modestly raised podium of interconnected student and public spaces.

The project’s most deliberate design element places three levels of interdisciplinary theme-based research neighborhoods within the canopy of centuries-old live oak trees which are a defining feature of Tulane’s campus landscape and an extension of the Frederick Law Olmsted designed Audubon Park. Activities within the labs are made visible to the campus through a large picture window with vertical sunshades and bird-safe glazing working in harmony with thousands of oak leaves to create a sublime daylit environment for engineering and scientific research.