Using Design-Build and a Hybrid Integrated Practice Approach to Create a High-Performance Sustainable Laboratory: A Case Study of the Cardiovascular Research Building (CVRB) at the University of California, San Francisco

Irene Monis, AIA, LEED® AP, SmithGroup Inc.
Peter Pobjoy, LEED AP, Southland Industries

The new laboratory building, CVRB, for the Cardiovascular Research Institute will be the first LEED for New Construction (NC)-certified facility on the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) campus. The 230,000-square-foot state-of-the-art biomedical research laboratory will be dedicated to cardiovascular disease research. To facilitate interaction between research and practice, a cardiovascular outpatient clinic is located within the facility. The building's research program provides open laboratory space for 48 principal investigators, flexible support, private offices, interaction areas, and conference rooms, along with a 35,000-square-foot vivarium that includes barrier, non-barrier, and cage sterilization areas.

CVRB was developed using a hybrid Integrated Practice Delivery (IPD) approach. The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) scope is design-build, as is the exterior skin of the building. IPD and lean construction principles were implemented to help inform design quality, project cost, and schedule. The team applied the Labs21 Approach in conjunction with IPD to maximize sustainability and to attain a high-performance laboratory while still conforming to budget constraints: the CVRB is on track to attain LEED Gold Certification and will be completed one month ahead of schedule, with its LEED certification cost estimated at less than 1 percent of the total construction cost.

Sustainability features include habitat restoration with native grasses, an extensive green roof, and an underground stormwater control gravel basin, along with an optimal indoor environment attained through thermal comfort design and verification, use of zero volatile organic compound materials, and extensive daylighting. Energy efficiency, laboratory equipment load right-sizing, fume hood commissioning, and risk management of air effluents are among the various Labs21 engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) strategies incorporated into the project.

In line with IPD principles, the general contractor and major subcontractors came on board during early design. Guided by a collaborative approach, owner, architect, and contractors worked together to meet project milestones and sustainability goals.

The design and construction coordination was executed using Building Information Modeling (BIM). The BIM model contains detailed information on laboratory and MEP systems.

In this presentation, the speakers will share their insight on how their collaborative hybrid approach to IPD in conjunction with the Labs21 Approach can result in optimized sustainability, reduced waste, and maximum efficiency through the entire design and construction process. The audience will gain an understanding of the strategies and methodologies applied.

Biographies:

Irene Monis is a principal with the San Francisco office of SmithGroup. An architect and a sustainability expert with over 20 years of experience, Ms. Monis specializes in the design and construction of science and technology facilities. Her expertise involves projects on university and institutional campuses with a focus on green design, LEED, and Labs21. She has extensive experience leading LEED-certified projects and has presented at industry conferences on topics ranging from sustainability to science and technology design.

As a sustainability leader at SmithGroup, Ms. Monis has conducted LEED training seminars and has served as a sustainability advisor for the company at large. Through her laboratory design experience, Ms. Monis has been an active participant in the Labs21 Program.

Examples of her work include the Molecular Foundry, a LEED Gold–certified nanotechnology facility at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that is featured as a Labs21 Case Study, and the CVRB at UCSF, which is on track to attain LEED Gold certification under Ms. Monis' leadership.

Peter Pobjoy is a senior vice president and chief of design with Southland Industries. He is responsible for the growth and direction of Southland's engineering resources in addition to leading the conceptual design on large and complex projects, including the CVRB at UCSF. His experience includes the design of acute care hospitals, research laboratories, mission-critical facilities, institutional buildings, and central utility plants. Mr. Pobjoy brings innovation to all aspects of the design focusing on energy efficiency and sustainability.

Mr. Pobjoy graduated from Trinity College Dublin with degrees in both mathematics and mechanical engineering. He is a registered mechanical engineer in the State of California and a LEED Accredited Professional. He is an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).