THE NEW DEMERITT HALL
Features of the new building
Modern research lab space
DeMeritt Hall houses the UNH experimental research labs for condensed matter physics, medical imaging, and nuclear physics. This research is funded through competitive grants from National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Energy and had resulted in work that has achieved national and international recognition. Both undergraduate and graduate students are key members of these research teams.
The new research spaces will have clean, isolated power, compressed air, processing cooling, as well as temperature control year-round. Larger floor to ceiling heights will allow large pieces of equipment to be used and manipulated easily. Some areas will be dedicated to experiments requiring vibration isolation and low electrical noise. A modern elevator will allow for movement of larger experimental equipment to and from the laboratories. Increased flexibility in room configurations will provide continued cost savings as research groups change their size or mission. The new DeMeritt has more square footage devoted to research, and will allow research groups to expand and be more productive and efficient.
There are two areas that will meet unique needs. The first (part of the Center for Hyperpolarized Xenon Imaging) is an MRI facility on the first (ground) floor that provides for magnetic, radio-frequency, and electrical isolation. A removable panel through the exterior wall will allow installation and replacement of latest technology MRI scanners. Integral illuminated signage enhances laser safety. On the second floor, project development space will allow assembly of prototype instrumentation for polarizing gases, measuring its properties, and preparing for new applications.
The second research facility is the deep pit in an isolated floor section in the basement condensed matter physics lab of Dr. Pohl. This pit will allow for high-precision experiments at very low temperature and strong magnetic fields in ultrahigh vacuum, well-shielded from ambient electromagnetic fields and building vibrations.
Active learning spaces
Because there is a good deal of research as well as our own experience that tells us that students learn more if they are actively participating during class time (“The person who is working is the one who is learning!”) we have built some active learning features into the new building. For example, we have two studio classrooms for introductory physics where students sit at tables of nine and work in groups of three. The two largest lecture halls have tables instead of tablet arm chairs so that students can work cooperatively during class time.
Green architectural features
Our architectural firm is committed to sustainable design. They have designed for us an excellent building envelope that is energy efficient, with natural ventilation that allows the building to breathe. They have designed architectural shading on the south side of the building facing Conant Square that will block the strong light in the summer, but let the warmth in during the winter. Other features include occupancy sensors tied to room temperature controls, window contacts that will turn off conditioned air to rooms that have open windows, day-lighting controls in public areas and some classrooms, waterless urinals, low flow faucets, dual flush toilets
People-friendly improvements
There are several improvements sprinkled throughout the building to make it more people-friendly. We will have a two-story great room with southern exposure and informal seating to promote informal interactions and to bring light into the building. Hallway chalkboards will also promote interactions among students and faculty. There will be air-conditioning for the hot summer months all throughout the building. In the current DeMeritt, all of the handicap accessible features are, of necessity, retrofitted. The new building will have these features incorporated seamlessly. The displacement air ventilation in the large lecture hall will be a great improvement over the current hot and stuffy conditions. Just outside the large lecture hall there will be benches for waiting students and borrowed light from the library to brighten the area. There will be far more fixtures in the lavatories than we currently have.