Construction Zone: Science/Research Facilities

March 1, 2007
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; University of Notre Dame; Newark Science Park High School; Eastern Regional High School; University of Arizona

Phased growth

The fourth phase of a six-part master plan for the north campus of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas was planned to be a biomedical research center. The university, however, was unable to immediately identify the users for the space when it was ready to move forward with the design of the facility.

As a result, the architect designed and bid the project in two stages. First, an enclosed, structural shell was designed to allow for completion at a later date. Once the users were determined, the structure and interiors were finished.

The resulting project is a 16-story, 535,245-square-foot biomedical laboratory building; a five-story, 282,000-square-foot research building; and a 20,000-square-foot expansion of the campus' central plant. The project also included an above-ground parking structure and landscaped plaza.

The architect for this project is Omniplan (Dallas).

Tradition greets technology

The new Jordan Hall of Science at the University of Notre Dame, Ind., is the largest academic building on campus and has a design that is consistent with the university's Gothic architecture. The exterior blends with the fenestration and details of neighboring buildings constructed more than a century and a half ago. The main galleria stretches the length of the building and creates an impression of Gothic scale and aesthetics.

The four-story structure houses the latest lab technology and equipment including a digital visualization theater with a 50-foot dome and IMAX-quality AV equipment available to all departments. Four greenhouse bays can be programmed individually to suit the climate, light and humidity requirements of class projects.

Jordan Hall also houses 40 labs, each equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation, twin 250-seat auditoriums designed to encourage collaboration among students, a museum of biodiversity, and a rooftop observatory with multiple telescopes.

The architect for this project is S/L/A/M Collaborative (Glastonbury, Conn.).

Start: January 2004

Completion: May 2006

Project area: 202,500 sq. ft.

Cost: $50 million

Technically speaking

Newark Science Park High School, Newark, N.J., has a capacity of 1,200 students and features state-of-the-art methods and equipment with accommodation for future technologies, including direct connectivity to Internet2 services. The 250,000-square-foot building also features gigabit Ethernet, high-speed communications ports, wireless educational technology for diverse instructional needs, advanced audiovisual support, and sophisticated security.

The network is capable of backbone speeds of 10 gigabits and provides 1-gigabit Ethernet to each desktop. A dedicated network connection will provide direct access to the resources at University Heights Science Park.

This campus partnership network connection will provide access to the resources at the public and private colleges and universities close to the school. Wireless connectivity to more than 1,000 laptops will be provided throughout the building. Tele/data design services included advanced technology specifications for all computers, servers, e-mail services, video systems and electronic bulletin boards.

Custom-tailored SMART A/V systems were designed to meet the specific needs of the presentation subject matter. Videoconferencing, PDA-integrated experiment stations, and advanced instructional technology applications and controls were used.

The architect for this project is Einhorn Yaffee Prescott A&E, PC (New York City). The engineering design consultant is Professional Systems Engineering, LLC (Philadelphia).

Completion: 2006

Project area: 250,000 sq. ft.

Capacity: 1,200

Intro to science

The science wing addition to Eastern Regional High School, Voorhees, N.J., provides six classrooms, five science labs, three prep rooms, a technology lab and a teachers' workroom. The addition also links two classroom wings together and improves circulation.

The goals of the project were to consolidate technology-driven laboratory space into a science and technology wing, and revamp the regional high school's information hub. The furniture and lab equipment provide flexible designs to accommodate technology.

The general-purpose science lab features kidney-shaped student stations. The physics lab features flat lab tables suited for that academic program. An indirect lighting system minimizes glare on computer screens.

The architect for this project is The Gibson Tarquini Group, Inc. (Cherry Hill, N.J.).

Rooftop courtyard

Between the new Medical Research Building at the University of Arizona, Tucson, and the Thomas Keating Bioresearch Building is a large rooftop courtyard area that features a 300-foot-long, 87-foot-tall steel shade structure.

The canopy-style ramada was created using a Cambridge Architectural Solar mesh system, which consists of 240 long mesh panels, stretched between stainless-steel cables. The cables were integrated into the mesh panels to accommodate effective tensioning without a significant amount of intermediate support within the panels. The mesh panels were installed on an angle to allow for maximum shading. The support structure is independent of the building's rooftop structure.

The architect for this project is Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, Los Angeles.

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