Project Type:  Institutional Size:  30,000 sqft Year:  Complete in 2023 Credibility: Yang's Previous Experience at STR Architecture丨Design Photographer:  Trent Bell, Jen Holt Nestled between the sweeping panoramas of Frenchman’s Bay and Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, the new Human Ecology Center blends environmental responsibility with cross-disciplinary exploration. Taking cues from the distinct setting of the oceanfront campus, the building offers an engaging, place-based learning environment that fosters a deep connection to the Maine coastline. Serving as a new academic anchor for the northern edge of campus, it creates outdoor gathering spaces that open toward the Atlantic, strengthening the link between the College’s academic life and its natural surroundings. Inside, the Center is arranged to encourage collaboration across disciplines, housing creative studios, science laboratories, a greenhouse, a herbarium, and flexible classrooms. Informal study alcoves and communal areas extend education into shared spaces, promoting interaction among students and faculty. Designed to meet rigorous German Passive House standards, the building uses about one-fifth of the energy consumed by conventional facilities, with power supplied by a rooftop solar array. South-facing glass captures warmth in winter, while sustainably sourced, predominantly timber construction minimizes environmental impact. By uniting high performance with inviting, adaptable spaces, the Center enriches campus life and ensures its relevance and resilience for years to come.