The center is the home of the University's biology, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and physics programs. The existing 168,000-sf facility has undergone extensive renovations and has increased by 26,000-sf of space in two new additions. The key to the design recommendation was a new central atrium that was created out of vacated library stack space and serves as the center's new public square. The atrium also links the building to the campus as a whole, with a meandering path, "Science Walk," beginning at the University Forum, running through the Gottwald Science Center, and ending in a proposed garden.