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Spaces for Scientific Collaboration Define New University of Florida Biomed Sciences Building

HuntonBrady Architects of Orlando & Ellenzweig Associates of Cambridge designed the six-story, 160,000-square-foot facility

May 13, 2010 — The University of Florida’s goal was a lofty one: design and construct an interdisciplinary health sciences building that would facilitate scientific collaboration, attract top faculty and establish the university as one of the top research institutions in the country.

 Two top health-care and laboratory design architects joined forces to make the dream a reality.

UF’s new $90 million, 160,000-square-foot Biomedical Sciences Building in Gainesville, designed by HuntonBrady Architects, of Orlando, and Ellenzweig Associates of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has opened to accolades.

 HuntonBrady and Ellenzweig were the architect of record and design architect, respectively, of the  multidisciplinary biomedical research facility, which will house researchers affiliated with UF’s College of Medicine, the College of Public Health and Health Professions, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, as well as the research and administrative operation of the College of Engineering’s department of biomedical engineering. The physical and cultural integration of the biosciences, medicine and biomedical engineering with the new facility will provide synergistic and collaborative environments that establish UF as a leader in interdisciplinary biomedical science, engineering, technology, translational research and technology transfer.

The Biomedical Sciences Building unites two existing, occupied buildings: a vivaria and a research laboratory. Close proximity to a state-of-the-art animal care facility in the same building will add to the synergy and allow UF researchers housed in the  Biomedical Sciences Building and across campus access to one of the finest biomedical research facilities in the world.

The structure is clad in red brick with extensive use of glass throughout. The entire upper floor is a mechanical penthouse with a sound well specifically designed to mitigate the noise of the large exhaust fans, ensuring that the new building will preserve the intimate campus environment. The building’s two-storied, 3,400-glass walled lobby atrium and sun-bathed terrace serves as a welcoming hub of interaction for students, scientists and teachers, fostering interaction with a clear connection to surrounding university buildings.

Even before construction began, the building was awarded a Revit BIM Experience Award for its innovative use of BIM (building information modeling) computer software during the project’s design development. Engineers with Walter P. Moore and project design team members used the new technology to accelerate the project schedule and to facilitate design coordination by forming a multidisciplinary, three-dimensional model of the project.

Security and safety are paramount in animal research facilities. The project required a delicate balance of design for safety throughout the animal-contained areas, with creative design to encourage people and workplace interaction.

 Animal holding facilities used for research are typically designed to meet functional criteria only with minimal consideration into design, due to the strict requirements of National Institutes of Health, the guidelines established by the National Research Council and the delicate nature of the space where animals need to be kept in a tightly controlled environment to prevent contamination from outside influences.

 Still, the human factor was not ignored. Bold colors were used in personnel spaces that were not exposed to natural daylight. The design of this facility encompasses a wide variety of details to ensure that the final result would not only serve the function of the space, but enhance the overall experience for the people within.

 Going green is a campuswide initiative at UF, and green education buildings are fast becoming their[m3]  specialty. The Biomedical Sciences Building features a number of environmentally friendly, sustainable features and is on track to obtain LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, which surpasses the original goal of LEED Silver Certification. The university is committed to deliver sustainable buildings that support maximizing efficiency, productivity and comfort of the faculty, staff and students. The USGBC recognizes green performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: site planning, water management, energy management, material use, indoor air quality and innovation & design process.  

Some sustainable design features of the building include:

 Exemplary Water Savings. The building has water-saving features that will reduce almost 50 percent of the water usage that a typical laboratory would use.

• Green Power Usage. The university has agreed to provide 70 percent of the power usage for the building from renewable resources.
• Material Selection. All of the finish materials throughout the building were obtained with sustainability in mind. Regional manufacturing, renewable materials and forest-certified woods are just some of the considerations made for materials selected in the building that have a minimal environmental impact.
• Brownfield Redevelopment. The building once stood on an old loading dock with contaminated soils. The contaminated material and industrial loading dock were removed, allowing a fresh start for the site with a new emphasis on research and health.
• Energy Performance. Laboratories are typically high-energy users. The architects used BIM software and enhanced building commissioning to find places to reduce the building’s energy consumption.

The Biomedical Sciences Building is one of a series of new UF health facilities to open along Archer Road, including the Emerging Pathogens Institute and the Shands Cancer Hospital at UF. HuntonBrady

Architects also designed UF’s Cancer & Genetics Research Complex, which opened in 2006, and is the firm’s second LEED-certified building with UF.

 Whiting Turner was the building contractor.

  Other significant health-care and education work by HuntonBrady Architects includes Florida Hospital Orlando Patient Tower, the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson. Modern Healthcare named HuntonBrady one of the Top 30 health-care design architects in the nation (2009). They are an award-winning architecture and interior design firm that provides services to public and private clients, including healthcare, education, commercial office, religious and municipal projects.

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