Energy Use Reduction

Brown University is constructing an $88 million facility for the School of Engineering in Providence, R.I. Designed by Kieran Timberlake, the three-story, 80,000-sf project will support collaborative research in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and clean energy technologies. The sustainably designed facility will feature open-plan laboratories, cleanrooms for bioscience and nanotechnology, an imaging suite, collaboration spaces, and an advanced multidisciplinary undergraduate teaching lab.

Reckitt Benckiser (RB) is planning to build the £105 million R&D Centre for Scientific Excellence in Hull in the United Kingdom. Designed and built by M+W Group, the 140,000-sf innovation hub will feature GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) laboratories for the research and development of consumer health and hygiene products, and will include analytical, formulation, and microbiology suites as well as a stability testing unit.

Stanford Health Care is building an 824,000-sf replacement hospital in Palo Alto, Calif.  Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects in association with Lee, Burkhart, Liu, the patient-centered facility will provide 17 operating rooms, advanced imaging suites, an emergency department, a Level One trauma center, a helipad, and 368 private inpatient rooms. The sustainably designed project will utilize exterior glass panels to optimize natural light and will feature a central atrium and five healing gardens.

Williams College will begin construction by fall of 2016 on a $204 million renovation of the Unified Science Center in Williamstown, Mass. Featuring flexible laboratories for interdisciplinary teaching and research, the project includes construction of two new structures totaling 177,000 sf. The first 77,000-sf building will house research labs for biology, chemistry, and physics and is slated for completion in May of 2017.

Retrofit or renovate? It’s a common question facing many owners of laboratory facilities built in the 1970s, and the answer isn’t always obvious. A simple retrofit of building systems can improve reliability and cut energy consumption significantly, but a gut renovation can be transformative by enhancing performance and providing associated benefits in recruitment and retention, quality of life, and scientific productivity––benefits that can more than offset the higher initial cost.

The Pennsylvania State University is planning a $44.5 million renovation and expansion of the Agricultural Engineering Building in University Park. Providing multidisciplinary laboratories and classrooms, the project will add 35,000 sf to the existing 64,533-sf (44,581-asf) structure. The building houses the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, a department jointly administered by the College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Engineering.

AstraZeneca is building the £750 million Global R&D Centre and Corporate Headquarters on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in the United Kingdom. Providing advanced facilities for pharmaceutical discovery and development, the 580,000-sf project will include space for biologics research, high throughput screening, medicinal chemistry, pre-clinical research, and clinical studies. Designed to optimize interaction and connectivity, the collaborative 11-acre campus will accommodate approximately 2,000 employees and will include an on-site energy center.

Emory University Hospital is constructing a $200 million medical tower in Atlanta. Designed by SmithGroupJJR, the nine-story, 456,144-sf facility will provide 210 inpatient beds as well as an intensive care unit, diagnostic suites, and specialized treatment areas. The project team includes commissioning agent WorkingBuildings and cost estimation consultant Costing Services Group. The tower will be connected to the Emory Clinic, the Winship Cancer Institute, and the main hospital by a pedestrian bridge.

Oregon Health & Science University broke ground in June of 2016 on the $160 Knight Cancer Institute in Portland. Designed by SRG Partnership to foster multidisciplinary collaboration, the seven-story, 320,000-sf facility is located on the South Waterfront Campus and will provide biomedical laboratories, administrative offices, interaction hubs, core labs, a 200-seat auditorium, and space for clinical trials.

Pfizer broke ground in late June of 2016 on the $350 million Global Biotechnology Center in China. Located in the Hangzhou Economic Development Area (HEDA), the facility will manufacture pharmaceutical biosimilars, which are drugs designed with similar active properties to existing licensed therapies. The project will feature a modular production facility created by GE Healthcare that utilizes flexible, single-use biomanufacturing technologies. The duration of construction will be 18 months with completion expected in early 2018.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University began construction in late June of 2016 on the $22 million STEM Education Center in Prescott, Ariz. Designed by LEO A DALY, the 52,500-sf addition will feature 20 laboratories, including specialized facilities for the study of robotics, aerial engineering, space technologies, and high-speed computation and simulation. The teaching and research building will also provide classrooms, undergraduate science labs, meeting rooms, an auditorium, a multimedia center, and a planetarium.

Tufts University is building the 175,000-sf Science and Engineering Complex in Boston. The $110 million project includes construction of a five-story, 80,000-sf teaching and research atrium and the complete renovation of two adjoining halls. Designed to promote collaborative research in neuroscience and environmental science, the new building will provide three floors of wet research space, four core facilities, two imaging suites, a mass spectrometer suite, teaching labs, and seven meeting rooms.

The University of Rochester is building the $25 million Wegmans Hall in Rochester, N.Y. Housing the Goergen Institute for Data Science, the four-story, 58,000-sf interdisciplinary facility will provide laboratories, classrooms, collaborative work zones, a large auditorium, and faculty and staff offices. LEED Silver sustainable design will be sought for the project, which will be dedicated in October of 2016 with occupancy expected in winter of 2017.

Columbia University Medical Center dedicated the $70 million Vagelos Education Center in June of 2016 in New York City. Designed by Diller, Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with executive architect Gensler, the 14-story, 100,000-sf facility provides technology-rich classrooms, an advanced simulation center, collaborative learning areas, a 275-seat auditorium, a café, and a student commons. LEED Gold certification will be sought for the project, which features a transparent design with abundant natural light.

The University of Michigan is constructing the $261 million Biological Science Building in Ann Arbor. Designed by SmithGroup JJR and Ennead Architects, the 300,000-gsf facility will provide open, flexible laboratories for collaborative research as well as classrooms, offices, and a vivarium. The building is sited adjacent to the existing Life Sciences Institute to which it will physically connect. The general contractor for the project is Barton Malow Company and completion is expected in 2018.