University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Howard R. Hughes School of Engineering, Advanced Engineering Building

This three-story, 50,000-square-foot facility supports the College of Engineering with collaborative learning, research, and support spaces. Program elements include a large maker space, wet and dry laboratories, student and faculty offices, an active learning classroom, divisible classrooms, a flexible auditorium, and a central lobby designed for connectivity and engagement.

Client

University of Nevada System

Construction Delivery

CMAR

PGAL Scope

Architect of Record

Completion Date

2023

The layout promotes adaptability and interaction. The second floor’s west bay and connecting bridge house offices for faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students. The center bay contains enclosed laboratories, while the eastern bay offers an open, flexible lab with movable benches and desks. The third floor provides additional wet labs with fume hoods and sinks, arranged to allow utility-free flexibility.

Interior finishes and exposed engineered systems were designed to serve both functional and educational purposes. Features such as steel cross-bracing and visible ceiling systems act as teaching tools, while material selections balance durability, maintainability, acoustic performance, and a modern academic aesthetic.

The facility was designed with partner design firm SmithGroup.

To enhance interdisciplinary use, the second floor connects directly to the third level of the existing Thomas Beam Engineering building, creating a seamless link between facilities.