Bridging disciplines—literally and figuratively—has become a concern du jour for colleges and universities as multidisciplinary collaborations continue to proliferate. But finding a solution depends on the area of research. For those in the humanities, exploring the treasures of another field of study usually takes little more than a stroll from the English Department over to History or Geography. For scientists, who need labs and collaborate with a wider range of disciplines, it’s more complicated. Computer jocks may use robotics labs; psychologists and earth scientists draw on research by chemists and biologists; physicists and astronomers need computer jocks . . . and on and on. 

With this new norm in academic scientific practice come new demands on campus facilities, most of which were constructed when each scientific discipline operated in its own silo. The increase in multidisciplinary study—as well as rapid advances in research—have fueled an academic building boom in the sciences in larger universities and, increasingly, in liberal arts colleges as well.