Photographing the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center

Emily Hagopian

Jul 21

3 min read

Updated: Jul 24

Students walk the campus path outside the Science and Engineering Innovation Center at San Francisco State University, a 125,000 square foot building by SmithGroup and DPR Construction; Emily Hagopian Photography

The Science and Engineering Innovation Center (SEIC) at San Francisco State University is a 125,000 square foot building delivered through a design build partnership between SmithGroup and DPR Construction, dedicated in January of 2025. The project went on to receive two awards at the CSU Facilities Management conference, one for architecture and engineering and one for energy efficiency. This post covers what it took to photograph a building built specifically to put science, and the students doing it, on display.

SF State's new Science and Engineering Innovation Center. A modern building with glass facade, grassy foreground, and cloudy sky, designed by SmithGroup built by DPR; Emily Hagopian Photography

A Building Designed Around Its Students

SEIC is SF State's first all electric building and sits on track for LEED Gold certification, with a microgrid, rooftop solar, and a battery backup power system built in. But the design goal that mattered most for photography was a different one. As with most education facilities, the point of SEIC was never the building itself. It was designed around how students would use it, gather in it, and be inspired by the research happening in full view around them. Large windows throughout the building were placed specifically so research activities could be seen in real time by anyone passing through.

That intent had to come through in the photography, not just the architecture writing about it.

Students gather at a long collaborative work table in a daylit study space at the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center, designed by SmithGroup built by DPR; Emily Hagopian Photography

Students work in a bright modern engineering lab with laptops, equipment, and large windows; at the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center, designed by SmithGroup built by DPR; Emily Hagopian Photography

Students move through the central connective spine at the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center, where glass walled labs put research activity in full view of passersby; Emily Hagopian Photography

The Shoot

This project was photographed over four days, working with SmithGroup and DPR Construction as the primary clients, with Rutherford and Chekene later purchasing images from the shoot as well. Drone operator Lloyd Ranola captured aerial perspectives of the building and its prominent 19th Avenue site as part of the shoot.

Student participation was essential to the entire assignment. An education building this deliberately designed around student use and student experience says very little when photographed empty. Bringing in students to actually occupy the labs, work in the collaborative spaces, and move through the building's central connective spine was what brought the design to life and showed what the architecture was actually built to support. This meant coordinating access and timing across four days to capture the building in genuine use rather than staged emptiness, which takes considerably more planning than a straightforward exterior and interior shoot.

Skateboarder passes students on a sunny campus path beside modern gray-and-white buildings under a clear blue sky at the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center, designed by SmithGroup built by DPR; Emily Hagopian Photography

People discuss a tower model in a modern lab with exposed ceiling and computers; overhead crane marked 5 TON at the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center, designed by SmithGroup built by DPR; Emily Hagopian Photography

Students gather outside the Science and Engineering Innovation Center, walking, sitting and biking in a sunny campus courtyard; 3655 visible; Emily Hagopian Photography

Students in white lab coats work at black tables in a bright science classroom with large windows and long ceiling lights at the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center, designed by SmithGroup and built by DPR; Emily Hagopian Photography

Students relax and walk in a sunny modern glass campus courtyard with benches, palm plants, and clear blue sky; Emily Hagopian Photography

People work in a bright makerspace with laser cutters and 3D printers; exposed ceiling, yellow wall, and Epilog Laser visible at the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center, designed by SmithGroup built by DPR; Emily Hagopian Photography

The Project Team

Design Architect: SmithGroup
Design Build Contractor: DPR Construction
Structural Engineer: GPLA
Base Building Structural Engineer of Record: Rutherford and Chekene
Prefabrication Contractor: Digital Building Components
Client: San Francisco State University
Photography: Emily Hagopian
Drone Operator: Lloyd Ranola

Recognition

SEIC received two awards at the CSU Facilities Management conference, one in the architecture and engineering category and one for energy efficiency. As with most projects, this recognition came after construction and photography were both complete.

Dusk at a modern glass-and-metal building with people walking and sitting in a courtyard beside a tall tree at the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center, designed by SmithGroup built by DPR; Emily Hagopian Photography

Dusk courtyard at a modern Science and Engineering Innovation Center, with people walking past lit glass buildings, designed by SmithGroup built by DPR; Emily Hagopian Photography

Exterior of modern white building beside busy road and train tracks under clear blue sky, with cars passing at the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center, designed by SmithGroup built by DPR; Emily Hagopian Photography

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the photographer for the SF State Science and Engineering Innovation Center? Emily Hagopian photographed the SEIC project, working directly with SmithGroup and DPR Construction, with additional images later purchased by Rutherford and Chekene. Drone operator Lloyd Ranola captured aerial perspectives as part of the shoot.

Was drone photography part of this project? Yes. Lloyd Ranola served as drone operator, capturing aerial views of the building and its site along 19th Avenue.

How long did the SEIC photo shoot take? The shoot took place over four days, which allowed time to coordinate student participation and capture the building genuinely in use rather than staged and empty.

Why include students in the photography? SEIC, like most education facilities, was designed around how students use and benefit from the space. Photographing it with students actually working in the labs and gathering in the collaborative areas was the only way to show what the design was built to support.

Did the project receive any awards? Yes. SEIC won two awards at the CSU Facilities Management conference, in the architecture and engineering category and the energy efficiency category.

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