Caltech Launches New Specialized 70k SF Quantum Research Center In Pasadena

• Caltech has officially debuted the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Center for Quantum Precision Measurement at 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, California.
• The four-story, 70,000-square-foot building includes laboratories, offices and two basement levels designed to support sensitive quantum research.
• HOK designed the research center with specialized features that help reduce vibration, electromagnetic interference and temperature fluctuations.
• The facility brings together researchers in physics, engineering, chemistry, biology and computer science.
• The building connects to the neighboring Downs-Lauritsen building through a bridge and an underground tunnel.

What the Quantum Research Center Includes

The California Institute of Technology has opened the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Center for Quantum Precision Measurement on its campus in Pasadena, California. Named for principal donors Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg, the four-story facility spans approximately 70,000 square feet and includes a mix of laboratory and office space. The building also contains two basement levels designed to create controlled environments for highly sensitive quantum measurements.

What the Specialized Laboratories Provide

The research center was designed to reduce environmental conditions that could interfere with quantum experiments. Locating laboratory areas below ground helps limit vibration, electromagnetic interference and changes in temperature. These specialized conditions allow researchers to conduct precise measurements while supporting both theoretical and experimental work.

“The facility brings together researchers from across disciplines, including physics, engineering, chemistry, biology and computer science, to address complex scientific challenges that require both theoretical and experimental collaboration,” Caltech President Thomas Rosenbaum said during the building’s dedication ceremony.

What the Center Means for Research Collaboration

The facility is intended to encourage researchers from multiple scientific fields to work together on complex projects.

“The notion of a place where you can bring together people who think about important problems from very different directions is very Caltech,” Rosenbaum said. 

The combination of laboratories, offices and shared research areas creates a centralized environment for interdisciplinary quantum research.

What Connects the Building to the Caltech Campus

The new center connects directly to the neighboring Downs-Lauritsen building through an elevated bridge and an underground tunnel. The Downs-Lauritsen building is home to the Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics. The physical connections are designed to support collaboration between researchers working across the two facilities.

What the Architectural Design Adds

HOK designed the center with a contemporary exterior that reflects architectural elements found throughout Caltech’s historic campus.

“The four-story building in particular draws from the fenestration patterns, pilasters, and solid-to-void rhythms of Linde Hall,” according to a Pasadena city staff report.

The façade incorporates glazed curtain walls and vertical exterior fins while referencing the horizontal and vertical patterns of nearby campus buildings.

What the Project Adds to Caltech

The Ginsburg Center expands Caltech’s research infrastructure with purpose-built space for quantum science and precision measurement. The project follows other recent investments in the Pasadena campus, including the Resnick Sustainability Center, as the university continues adding specialized facilities for scientific research and interdisciplinary collaboration.