Earth, Energy and Environment Center

The “core” of earth science research and education

Client: University of Kansas
Location: Lawrence, Kansas, United States
Size: 127,000 square feet
Status: Completed

The Earth, Energy and Environment Center (EEEC) at the University of Kansas is a central rallying point for energy and environmental learning and research on campus. Located adjacent to the existing Lindley Hall, the building is a figurative and literal bridge between basic and applied sciences, institution and industry, and researchers and community—striving to remove traditional academic barriers and create a dynamic environment for research teams and students.

The technology transfer and outreach center provide a public face to the University of Kansas’s resources and expertise, and link it to national and global industries. CannonDesign led the interior design and lab planning for the project, while Gould Evans led the architecture.

A museum-worthy mosasaur chasing a sea turtle hangs from the Slawson Hall atrium.

004591 00 N25 Cdwebsite — A museum-worthy mosasaur chasing a sea turtle hangs from the Slawson Hall atrium.

Kansas EEEC — A museum-worthy mosasaur chasing a sea turtle hangs from the Slawson Hall atrium.

Open labs throughout the building encourage transparency.

004591 00 N18 Cdwebsite — Open labs throughout the building encourage transparency.

The research activities within EEEC continue the building’s theme of bridging past and future with the physical and historical aspects of rock core analysis combined with emerging high-tech instrumentation and virtual reality. Technology is seamlessly integrated throughout the building, including in the “Edu-lobby,” which allows passersby to peer into active-learning studio lab environments and high-performance computing labs.

The “rock arboretum” in the G-Hawk Courtyard contains rocks collected by scientists from all over the country.

004591 00 N24 Cdwebsite — The “rock arboretum” in the G-Hawk Courtyard contains rocks collected by scientists from all over the country.

Adaptable research labs are focused on unconventional research within the fields of geology and engineering, including geo-microbiology, stable isotope geochemistry, chemistry of organic particles in unconventional hydrocarbon systems, and tertiary oil recovery for new technologies to improve fractured reservoir extraction. The open laboratory concept of shared-use research platforms and transparency enable team-based research and develop new connections to industry while supporting inspiration for the next generation of students and discovery.