Montclair State University Breaks Ground on $120 Million Interdisciplinary Science Building

Continuing its unprecedented growth under President Jonathan Koppell, Montclair State University broke ground today on a new $120 million Interdisciplinary Science Building which will open at the start of the 2028-2029 academic year.

Spanning 110,000 square feet, the facility will be a state-of-the-art space featuring teaching and research labs that will support expanded chemistry, physics and interdisciplinary science programs, a large flexible event space, technology-driven classrooms, faculty workspaces, student lounges and huddle spaces.

The project is made possible in part by a $60 million capital facilities grant issued by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

Interdisciplinary research and collaboration are at the heart of the building’s sustainable design, with additional highlights including:

• The Imaginarium: A state-of-the-art, ultra-flexible scalable space focused on innovation in data analysis and immersive visualization, which is a University-wide area of emphasis.
• A first-of-its-kind Indoor/Outdoor Classroom space: The first such space on the Montclair campus, the classroom will connect to the building’s outdoor event space and plaza and feature configurable seating.
• A commitment to sustainability: The building, which is being built to LEED Silver standards, will harvest solar energy and also feature a native rain garden, native bioswale and a dry stream bed
• A fourth-floor space designed to house a partnering organization: To create additional hands-on learning experiences and collaboration opportunities with surrounding communities, the building a customizable area that can be fit for a company (or companies) seeking to locate research and innovation activities within a vibrant campus research environment.
• A rooftop terrace offering an informal space for collaboration: Complete with expansive views of the New York City skyline, the terrace will serve as an outdoor extension of the building’s collaborative environment and will support interdisciplinary exchange and community building beyond the classroom

Montclair currently graduates more minority STEM students than any other institution in New Jersey. With the new building set to triple the available on-campus science lab space, the University is poised to become an even greater driver of access and excellence in higher education.

“At Montclair, we strive to offer an academic experience that is both accessible and excellent. The Interdisciplinary Science Building is part of that commitment,” says Montclair President Jonathan Koppell. “Fulfilling our mission requires constant innovation and investment to ensure we provide the best experience possible for our students. By creating modern laboratories, collaborative spaces and research opportunities, we ensure our students receive an education worthy of their investment while preparing them to shape the future of New Jersey.”

Research at Montclair State University

An R2 High-Research Activity institution, Montclair is committed not only to its status as one of the rare R2/Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the country, but to continuing its pursuit of R1 status by increasing hands-on research opportunities for students from the moment they step on campus.

With research expenditures totaling $45.43 million in 2025, the new Interdisciplinary Science Building will only add to Montclair’s growing research impact.

“This building will be more than a structure, it is a commitment,” says Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Fatma Mili. “A commitment to a transformational way of practicing science. We will build multidisciplinary science the Montclair way – inclusive, transformational, beautiful and humane. These are not just adjectives, they are the values that define this institution. This building is a loud and clear statement about who belongs in science, and who gets to define its future.”

“The new Interdisciplinary Science Building will dramatically change the experience for science students at Montclair State University,” says Lora Billings, dean of the University’s College of Science and Mathematics. “By providing larger, more accessible state-of-the-art lab facilities, in addition to all of the available spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, we will be preparing students with the tools they need to enter the workforce as productive scientists of the future.”