Function
The Science, Technology, Environment, Policy, Society (STEPS) Building was completed in 2010 as the primary home for the STEPS program at Lehigh University. The STEPS program aims to bring social sciences, engineering, and hard science activities into spatial proximity to encourage academic collaboration. As a result, the plan contains a mixture of classroom spaces, inter-disciplinary research and teaching laboratories, and faculty offices arranged to integrate the various functions and disciplines.

Model Codes
Lehigh University is located within the jurisdiction the City of Bethlehem, which enforces standards as laid out in Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (PUCC). The PUCC is modeled on the work of the International Code Council (ICC) and is reviewed and updated triennially. As of the completion of design in 2008, the PUCC 2006 revision was in effect, with key model code components including the 2006 International Building Code (IBC 2006), 2006 National Fire Protection Agency Code (NFPA 101-2006), 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC 2006), and associated standards applicable to the several trades.

Building Facades - "A" Wing
The "A" wing of the building is a long, low-rise structure with extensive wood finishes and high-efficiency glazing. The southern side is predominately glazing with a deep wood overhang resting on protruding structural steel for solar shading. The northern side contains minimal glazing for natural lighting, but is mostly in-place masonry over spray-foam insulation to maximize heating efficiency against the northern wind.

The STEPS Building recently received LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The following are several examples of ustainable features incorporated from the onset of the project to physically embody the STEPS program's forward-looking mission of “collaboration, innovation and scholarship in the areas of science, technology, environment, policy and society.”

Green Space
Prior to construction, the site was an open field frequently used by students for recreational purposes. The building is situated in an “L” shape along the site's edge to preserve as much of the existing green space as possible. Exterior spaces near the building are landscaped to increase permeable area and provide shade trees to reduce the heat-sink effect on hardscape.