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Flexible Biomedical Laboratories for Future National
Institutes of Health Funded Research Grants
Greg Soyka, AIA, and Judy Stephens,
LS3P Associates, Ltd.
The Medical University of South Carolina's (MUSC)
Darby Children's Research Institute is a 121,500-square-foot, seven-story
biomedical research and vivarium facility. The facility is entered
through the lobby of the existing Basic Science Building, providing
a continuous connection to the traditional campus entry courtyard.
An additional benefit of this strategy is reduced construction cost
made possible by upgrading existing elevators rather than providing
a new and separate elevator core. The biomedical laboratories are
designed on an 11 foot by 11 foot planning module. Combining modules
creates large open and flexible laboratories with extremely pleasant
daylighting and spectacular views. Adding or removing partitions
that sit on top of the “moduledge” system make laboratory
layout modifications quick and easy. An internal service corridor
provides improved laboratory access, shared equipment space, and defines
a compact and efficient mechanical and electrical system loop. The
efficient HVAC and mechanical loop allows for the addition of fume
hood and specialty exhaust connections with minimal disruption to
adjacent workspaces.
The mechanical system includes eight rooftop Strobic exhaust fans
and constant volume supply fans. A pressure-independent HVAC duct
system allows for maximum flexibility. The system is designed to
allow the doubling of the current 40 fume hoods. Energy-efficient
and reliable life safety is provided by the inclusion of 50 percent
fume hood sash openings, alarms, and nighttime setback. Ductwork
throughout the facility is oversized to allow for smaller fan horsepower
and easy accommodation of future program changes.
Perhaps the most unique feature of the project is the “shell
and core” approach. By starting construction as a vacant laboratory
building, the University was able to stretch a constrained budget
to build a much larger facility than would have been possible otherwise.
Subsequent grants form the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were
then applied for and received to fund the finish work in individual
laboratories. All of the "shelled” spaces were funded
and finished before the substantial completion of the “core”
building. This funding strategy allowed the owner to fund a 120,000-sqaure-foot
biomedical research laboratory building with only half of
the funding available at the original bid date. The new facility
has helped the University recruit more highly sought after biomedical
researchers who were recruited with NIH grants in tow. Three-dimensional
CADD tours of the laboratories also helped with that same recruitment
process.
Biographies:
Greg Soyka,
AIA, joined LS3P Associates, Ltd. and the Healthcare and Technology
Group in 1999. With over 20 years of experience in architectural
design, he has been the prime mover behind a number of clinical
and research facility projects for MUSC and its Hospital Authority.
Before moving to Charleston, Mr. Soyka worked in Chicago for 15
years. Projects at laboratory and animal facilities at Washington
University in St. Louis and Northwestern University prepared him
for the innovative assignments he tackles as a member of LS3P’s
Healthcare and Technology Group.
More recently, Mr. Soyka has had extensive experience with biomedical
research facilities including MUSC's Children’s Research Institute,
MUSC’s Basic Science Building Cage Wash Renovation, and more
recently, the Medical University Hospital Authority’s 650,000-square-foot
Phase I Replacement Hospital with a remote, free-standing, 70,000-square-foot
central energy plant, as well as MUSC's new 118,000-square-foot
College of Dental Medicine.
Judy Stephens is a senior associate at LS3P Associates, Ltd.'s Charleston office. Ms. Stephens has over 15 years of experience in the healthcare and biomedical research laboratory design industry including programming, concept development, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration. Her projects include both renovation and new construction for both hospital and biomedical research labsoratories and vivariums. Now focused on project management, Ms. Stephens is recognized for her organizational skills, which help her to facilitate complicated projects. Her experience and understanding allow her to integrate the owner's goals, budget, and program requirements with other technical issues, such as the structural and mechanical requirements, in an innovative manner that will lead to an end product that meets the owner's needs functionally, as well as aesthetically.
Ms. Stephens is also an asset in developing phasing plans based on the budget with the ability to incorporate future needs and expansion. Understanding the budget and the ability to develop a phasing plan is an important criterion for most owners considering the development of a large project.
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