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Multidisciplinary Research Building
Multidisciplinary Research Building (MRB) University of Kansas General Description Cannon Design, in association with Gould Evans, was commissioned to design a multidisciplinary research building (MRB) on the University of Kansas West Campus. The 106,000-sf research facility is adjacent to the existing Structural Biology Center, a multidisciplinary "think tank" for researchers to share ideas and promote the sciences. The design of the facility is driven by the functional needs of research projects and disciplines, including chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, molecular bioscience, mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, and geology. The project also includes a biosafety level 3 (BSL3) laboratory suite for work with hazardous organisms and pathogens, an environmentally stable isotope lab, a biochemistry lab for geological research, and cleanroom facilities for nanofabrication research. The MRB accommodates200 people, including 20 faculty professional investigators; 25 post-docs; 136 graduate students; 10 undergraduate students; 4 technicians; and 5 support staff. Project scope included design and definition of the entire infrastructure and master plan for a West Research Campus including roads, parking, site utilities and additional buildings. Thus MRB is the foundation for a multi-year expansion of KU’s research infrastructure. Project Goals /Vision The purpose of the KUMRB is as follows:
Planning Process The design plan was driven by the functional needs of a variety of research projects and disciplines. In traditional research facilities, labs line the hallways, with faculty offices inside or next to them. In the MRB, labs line two hallways, but offices are consolidated at one end of the building. Space at the opposite end and between the hallways functions as shared space that fosters discussion among different disciplines. The configuration of these spaces supports teams of researchers with laboratories, work rooms and offices, meeting and conference rooms, equipment and research support spaces, and cleanrooms. Because multiple disciplines function within the facility, special consideration was given to utility and mechanical distribution, including waste management, security, and life-safety systems. A central plant located in the basement will eventually serve chilled water and high pressure steam to all future buildings located on the KU West Research Campus. The central plant was initially fit out with two 500-horsepower high-pressure-steam boilers, providing 100% redundant capability for the MRB. Space was provided for an additional 3,000 horsepower of boiler capacity to support West Campus growth. Special Challenges & Solutions Typically, such a project would entail a start-to-finish schedule of 50 months. Completing the project in a compressed period of 15 months allowed KU to save $12 million. From the outset, the team committed to constructing an efficient research laboratory building that would break new ground in collaborative research at the University – on a schedule that many thought was impossible. A concrete frame building with the ground floor as slab on grade would allow the fastest start to construction, but became evident that a basement would be necessary to house the central plant that would serve steam and chilled water to the West Campus. In addition, rather than being a simple rectangular box, the building was going to take a triangular shape, increasing the complexity of the project. Construction of the structural frame proceeded rapidly as details were developed for the remainder of the building design. Over the next few months, as more researchers were identified as candidates for the facility, “generic labs” were transformed into user-specific spaces. Mechanical and electrical equipment was delivered and installed while the building frame was constructed, with installation of piping, ducts, conduits, and other components progressing from the basement up through the first and second floors while the concrete on the roof was curing. Building construction, installation of casework and equipment, finishing, testing, and commissioning became a blur as more and more trades joined the project. Some trades scheduled their work off-hours and on weekends to maximize the efficiency of their efforts. Biweekly owner/architect/contractor review meetings, and smaller meetings to work through specific issues kept the project on track. Unique Features/Innovations Openness and transparency are valued by the university as important assets; KU MRB “opens its arms and reaches” toward the future campus promenade and distant views. While the research labs are strung along the utility core, spaces dedicated to exchange of ideas are concentrated around the cascading stairs facing the campus. The technological quality of the building, reinforced by expressed building systems, metal cladding and glass reflects the youthful spirit and optimism of student and instructors. At night the building glows and reveals the dynamic character of the public spaces arranged along the parameter and the grand staircase. Safety & Security Considerations Special signal grounding systems meet both EIA/TIA telecommunications standards and electronic laboratory grounding requirements. A vertical ground bus infrastructure serves both and is tied to the building’s electrical and lightning protection systems ground per National Electrical Code. The facility’s fire alarm system is compliant with ADA requirements and includes firefighter’s voice paging, exceeding local code. An ExitPoint sounder system provides additional aid in directing occupants toward exits when the alarm is sounding. The system uses state-of-the-art analog addressable technology incorporating distributed processing along a common communication trunk. Special HVAC interfaces assure fan shutdown for the appropriate air handling system. Environmental Considerations Electrical systems include energy-efficiency measures to minimize power distribution losses and maximize lighting efficiencies. Examples of this include low-loss transformers to minimize energy dissipated through heat loss, lighting systems that use energy efficient fluorescent lamps and ballasts, and minimal use of incandescent lamps. Automatic lighting controls throughout the building use programmable low-voltage controls in public corridor and laboratory areas, passive infrared occupancy sensors in office areas, and timers within utility rooms to turn off systems when vacant. In addition, occupancy sensors contain ambient-light sensors that turn off artificial lighting when daylight and/or adjacent artificial lighting is adequate. Photocells in laboratory areas allow daylight harvesting. Mechanical systems include DDC control building automation system for optimization of HVAC equipment operation, variable-volume supply and exhaust systems serving laboratories, variable-volume supply and return systems with full 0-100% outside air economizer serving offices, variable-speed pumping of both hot water and chilled water, and energy-recovery systems for all laboratory exhaust. Materials Choices Central Plant: Initially fit out with two 500-horsepower high-pressure-steam boilers, providing 100% redundant capability, space for an additional 3,000 horsepower of boiler capacity to serve West Campus growth is provided. HVAC Systems: Two 55,000 CFM variable air volume (VAV) air handling units (AHUs) provide 100% conditioned outside air to the laboratories, and one 5400 CFM constant-volume AHU provides 100% conditioned outside air to the BSL3 laboratory suite. These units contain high-efficiency filtration to provide a clean environment, humidity control, and 100% redundant fans to assure reliability. Office areas are accommodated by an 8000 CFM VAV AHU with air-side economizer and high-efficiency filtration. Steam generated at the central plant is utilized for AHU preheat needs. Heating hot water generated at the central plant is utilized for all space heating requirements. Duplex pumps associated with the hot-water system utilize variable frequency drives for energy conservation. Chilled water generated at the central plant provides cooling for all AHUs. When outside air conditions are such that the economizer cannot satisfy the cooling load, chilled water is supplied to the cooling coils in the AHUs. Duplex chilled-water pumps utilize variable frequency drives for energy conservation. Indoor Air Quality: All building supply air is cleaned by high-efficiency filters when passing through AHUs before distribution. All processes producing fumes or vapors are contained in variable-volume fume hoods or under canopy hoods. Air is exhausted at the top of the building. Reentry of exhaust air into outdoor air intakes is prevented by high-velocity discharge exhaust fans. Laboratory exhaust systems are connected to the emergency power distribution system so that exhaust air flow is maintained for occupant safety during power outages. Technology Systems: Technology systems were critical for supporting the laboratory research planned for this facility. A local area network was designed consisting of data racks, network electronics, and patch panels within telecom closets positioned logically within building areas to be served for maximum 90m (300 ft) horizontal cable lengths. Cabling from telecom closets to desktop include category five enhanced (Cat 5e) high-performance cable. The backbone system consists of 12 strand multimode/12 single-mode fiber. Pathways include cable tray system and J-hooks for cable management throughout the facility. The LAN was utilized to integrate building systems including computer network, building automation, security, CCTV monitoring, and fire alarm monitoring. Audiovisual and videoconferencing capability is provided in conference rooms. Cost Effectiveness Cannon Design received authorization to proceed with the $40 million project on September 16, 2004. The project was to commence immediately, as the owner needed to occupy the building by December 15, 2005 – just 15 months later. Such a project would normally have a much longer start-to-finish process of approximately 50 months. Completing the project in just 15 months would save approximately $12 million by meeting qualification requirements for several million dollars in federal research grant funding and avoiding the costs associated with a prolonged construction period.
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