Photos by Robert Hubner, WSU Photo Services
Construction of the Biotechnology/Life Sciences Building, located at Stadium Way and South Fairway Road, is nearly complete and occupants are starting to move in.
The project, which began in May 2007, offers about 128,000 gross square feet of new space and cost about
$72,650,000. The building is a four-story structure above ground, with a vivarium located in the basement.
$72,650,000. The building is a four-story structure above ground, with a vivarium located in the basement.
The high-tech facility contains research laboratories, shared core laboratories, dedicated research support space, conference rooms and office space for 36 faculty, researchers and postdoctoral students.
The building also will house the administrative offices for the Center for Biotechnology and the School of Molecular Biosciences. It was designed to support the university’s biotechnology strategic initiative.
There are no classrooms in the facility.
Additional features include:
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Four Core labs for Molecular Biology, Genomics, Imaging, and Bioinformatics research support
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One Megawatt backup generator supporting full vivarium operations and building’s critical research components, with capability to augment campus power during peak demands.
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Automated building control system for energy management, equipment monitoring and control, zone air pressurization, lighting, and power configurations
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Heating and cooling systems recovery to augment campus steam heat and chilled water cooling.
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Indirect evaporative cooling system as primary cooling.
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Independent deionized water system
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Laboratory gas, compressed air, and vacuum systems
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Fully independent and dedicated vivarium system operations (HVAC, power)
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Electronic card security access throughout the building.
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Video teleconferencing in seminar and conference rooms.
The building site displaced the former tennis courts. New tennis courst were constructed south of the Student Recreation Center in summer 2006.
Work remaining to be done this summer includes: installation of telecommunications systems, assembly and placement of furnishings, relocation of labs and PI offices, equipping the vivarium, relocation of departmental offices, and programming of the access control system.
The building will be ready for full use by fall semester.
Overseeing the project was Virgil Hanson, project manager, WSU Capital Planning and Development.
