Construction progresses on the Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center, set to open in fall 2026

Barnard’s new state-of-the-art STEM building is currently under construction and on track to open in fall 2026.

Photo by Abigail Rabbitt/The Barnard Bulletin

By Sydnie Loeb

May 7, 2025

Previously Altschul Hall, the newly renovated Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center (RDSC) is in the process of becoming the new home for all things STEM at Barnard. The building, made possible by the $55 million donation of Diana T. Vagelos (BC ’55) and Dr. P. Roy Vagelos (VP&S ’54), has been under construction since spring 2024. It will consist of 14 floors of classrooms, research and lab space, and faculty offices for all of the experimental sciences, including the biology, chemistry, environmental science, neuroscience and behavior, and physics and astronomy departments. The building’s exterior was recently completed in January 2025, which was celebrated with a topping-out ceremony. The RDSC is expected to be completed by summer 2026 and open that fall. 

The new building will have almost double the research lab space of Altschul, allowing more students to pursue and participate in ongoing research and laboratory work. This expanded capacity includes the addition of a new vivarium — an enclosed space for researching plants and animals in seminatural conditions. The building will allow students to research a broader range of topics through the Summer Research Institute. 

Given that nearly half (49%) of the Class of 2024 majored in the sciences, the additional space will be able to accommodate the rapidly growing number of students majoring in STEM fields. Prospective chemistry major Tallulah Paris (BC ’28) said that she is “excited to have a space that’s our own where there can be a sense of community among STEM people at Barnard.” As Provost and Dean of the Faculty Rebecca L. Walkowitz stated, “The RDSC offers our faculty and student researchers a facility appropriate to the technologies, scope of collaboration, and scientific methods of the second quarter of the 21st century.”

In a statement to The Bulletin, the Barnard Builds Media Relations Team noted the new building’s “increased access to natural light for teaching spaces” and “faculty and staff offices located close to lab spaces.” The new state-of-the-art facility is also aiming to achieve LEED Gold status, one of the highest standards in building sustainability, which would make it the first net-zero operational carbon, all-electric academic science building in New York City. 

The building will also have a strong community impact beyond just Barnard students and faculty, as it will house new workshops, such as “Science in the City,” “Math and the City,” and the newly launched “STEAM in the City,” which are geared toward local K-12 students. “The Center’s prominent entrance and open, inviting areas will create an environment that fosters collaboration, encourages interactions with our neighbors in Harlem and Morningside Heights, and showcases key programs, including STEAM in the City, the Science Pathways Scholars Program, and more,” according to the Barnard website. 

The final stages of construction will also reengage green spaces on campus. Eleanor Berman (BC ’28) noted that she is excited for the grass steps between the RDSC and the Diana Center to be open again, a space currently barred by construction. 

Even with the many benefits the building will bring to the community, the construction process has not run smoothly for all community members. STEM student Rania Hussain (BC ’25) said, “The disruption caused by construction has displaced many STEM classes, been detrimental to the overall campus atmosphere, and has concentrated resource investment in STEM.” Despite this disruption, Hussain noted, “Ultimately, from a STEM student’s perspective, this has been a positive change. Still, as a dual major in Economics/Neuroscience, I believe this highlights a growing need for equitable resource development across all fields of study.” 

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center is expected to play a significant role in advancing STEM at Barnard, with its opening highly anticipated by students and faculty. As prospective STEM major Lucy Goldsmith (BC ’28) shared, “I’m excited for that space to be available and to have a new place to take classes and study on Barnard’s campus.”