SDSU Imperial Valley Sciences and Engineering Ribbon Cutting

BRAWLEY, CA - A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on August 4, 2025 to celebrate the grand opening of the new Sciences and Engineering Laboratories at San Diego State University (SDSU) Imperial Valley, Brawley. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to meet the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and future geothermal energy sector demands of ‘Lithium Valley.'

 The 37,000 square foot lab facility houses undergraduate science labs, core facilities, and collaborative spaces for public and private partners to work side by side with faculty and students in lithium research. The new building creates a sense of place and identity for the campus in Brawley, California.

The project is a result of $80 million in state funding from Governor Gavin Newsom and university investments to expand STEM opportunities. 

The architectural language incorporates passive strategies to respond to the natural forces of the site and takes a balanced approach to regional heritage and the identity of SDSU.

The tilt-up concrete exterior walls are part of the structural system of the STEM building and ideal to withstand the harsh climatic conditions while being long lasting. They also act as a canvas to tell stories about regional heritage, natural environment, and science by using form lines to create patterns and textures “carved” into the surface of the panels.

Infill screens at the colonnade protect the most vulnerable South facing building façade while casting shadows that transform over the course of the day and year, adding an element of time and movement to the architecture.  The idea of using shadow as a design element is especially effectful in the desert where the strong sun exposure creates dramatic shadows with high contrast. The design team aims to incorporate and use the unique quality of the region and its climate as design elements wherever possible.

Remarks from University leadership included SDSU President, Adela de la Torre and SDSU Imperial Valley Dean, Guillermina Gina Nunez-Mchiri. Remarks from government officials included Former Senator, Ben Hueso; former assemblymember, Eduardo Garcia; and Imperial Valley Supervisor, Ryan Kelley

SDSU Leadership with the AC Martin / Sundt Construction Design-Build Team