Health Science Research Building for Saint Louis
University: A Case Study
Punit Jain, Cannon Design
Many academic institutions are realizing that their research facilities
are antiquated, unsafe and sometimes do not meet current codes.
These institutions are therefore faced with the challenge of not
only upgrading their current facilities but building new ones to
keep up with the competition to attract the best researchers to
their institutions. These new facilities have to meet a much higher
level of security requirements and accommodate a higher proportion
of space for bio-terrorism research.
My presentation focuses on one such institution that has taken
on the challenge to build a facility not only at the cutting edge
of current standards but flexible to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
The new medical research building at Saint Louis University is designed
to meet the requirements of research and is envisioned to be an
environmentally responsible building. The building is designed to
meet LEED™ standards and will be submitted for certification.
The presentation will include a brief introduction to the programming
and planning followed by the design of the research building highlighting
sustainable design strategies and a brief overview of the LEED™
scorecard for the project.
Findings:
When working for large academic institutions, the design team has
to interact with many entities, which are all its "clients"
during various stages of a building project from conception to occupation.
These include the board of trustees, the facilities department,
the design and construction department, the environmental health
and safety department and last but by no means the least the future
occupants of the facility. These entities each have their priorities
which do not always coincide, and it is a challenge for the design
team to understand each perspective and synthesize them all into
a building that meets everyone's aspirations.
The other challenge is to design for occupants who are accustomed
to their existing facilities. The design team had to educate the
users with the current technologies, systems, furniture, materials
and sustainable practices.
Labs21 Connection:
The design team took an inclusive and holistic approach right from
the beginning to facilitate a smooth transition from existing to
new. The design concept is based on the principles of sustainability,
flexibility, and adaptability. It is based on the principles that
would foster collaboration, interaction, and innovation. It is based
on strategies that would result in energy efficiency, human comfort,
easy maintenance, operation and management. The design allows for
safety of its users and their research.
Biography:
Punit Jain received his Bachelor of Architecture from the
University of Roorkee in India. He holds a Master of Architecture
degree and a Masters in Construction Management from Washington
University in St. Louis, Missouri. With over fifteen years of experience
in the practice of architecture in India and the US, Mr. Jain is
currently employed as a Senior Associate with Cannon Design, an
international architectural, engineering and interior design firm.
He has extensive experience in designing Science, Education, Public
and Healthcare facilities. He is (currently) a leader of a team
dedicated to researching technological and industry innovation in
the field of science and research buildings and is involved in the
design, research and planning of complex assignments.
He is currently working on two science projects that include a
new $70 million Health Sciences Research building at Saint Louis
University, and a new $50 million Biomedical Research Building at
Kansas University Medical Center. His other project experience in
science buildings includes the Kinesiology Research Center at University
of Calgary; the Biomedical Research Development Complex Project
at IIT Chicago; the New Mexico Highlands University Science and
Technology Building in Las Vegas, NM; the Advanced Technology Center
at Florida Community College at Jacksonville, FL; the University
of Kentucky Health Sciences Medical Research Building in Lexington,
KY; and the Master Plan and implementation of the renovation of
teaching and research laboratories at the University of Missouri
in St. Louis, MO.
A Rotary Foundation Scholar and recipient of honor awards from
the National Institute of Architectural Education, New York and
the American Institute of Architects, St. Louis, he has been invited
to present at professional conferences nationwide. Mr. Jain is an
active member of the St. Louis chapter of USGBC and is the Outreach
Committee Chair. He also teaches a college course in computer graphic
applications and has been instrumental in developing Cannon Design's
computer-based systems for laboratory and health care facilities
design.
Back to the Agenda
|
