The new 63,000 sf Science Building at the College of San Mateo includes a three-story, steel frame structure for classrooms and research laboratories. The Planetarium structure is a separate round building with a dome-shaped roof separate and adjacent to the Science Building. To create the curved shape for the Planetarium's projections screen, R+C utilized a geodesic dome structure supported on a steel frame. This was the first geodesic dome structure reviewed by DSA.

With an innovative Geodesic Dome structure, R+C separated the review of the project into two separate packages: the first for review of the Science Building, and the second for review of the Planetarium. This allowed the Science Building to be permitted in advance of the Planetarium. DSA review and permitting for the Planetarium took place while the Science Building was being constructed. Rutherford + Chekene provided structural engineering services for the design-build team.