Earth and Planetary Sciences Building

The 150,180-sf building provides functional and flexible teaching and lab space, accommodates changing space needs over time, and supports the department’s ongoing growth and interdisciplinary programs.

The four-story, $33.7-million facility houses 133 labs, 30 cleanrooms, faculty offices, teaching spaces, study rooms, a library, and a museum. The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences explores the solar system through field work, lab measurements, data analysis, and theoretical work in the areas of geology, geodynamics, the evolution of the continental crust, fluid-rock interactions, and planetary sciences.

Labs house physical science, chemistry, biochemistry, and specialized analytical functions. The 133 labs include vibration- and EMI-sensitive instrumentation, 60 fume hoods, HVAC equipment, piping for lab equipment utilities, piping for building utilities, and wiring for power, data, and lighting.

Trace metal labs include Class 10,000-rated cleanrooms to provide a metal-free environment, with non-metallic fume hoods and ductwork, casework, and doors and frames. Any remaining metal items, such as hardware and screw heads, are epoxy sealed.

Utilities are housed in a perimeter lab utility bench. Any peninsula bench can be connected to this zone and have access to any of the utilities depending on the current needs of the research. This flexibility allows for easy reconfiguring from dry to wet labs.

Distinct research neighborhoods for wet chemistry and dry research, plus a defined area for teaching and administration, encourages interaction among the researchers and students. Comfortable lounge spaces, conference rooms, and shared teaching space also promote collaboration. A museum and a 5,000-sf library educate visitors and serves as gathering spaces for the students and faculty.

The building is a low consumer of energy and resources stemming from a sustainable design and the University’s commitment to energy conservation, with a total air change per hour rate of 0.8 cfm/sf. Siting helps to reduce the heating and cooling loads. Extensive use of natural lighting reduces the use of artificial lighting and provides a more productive and healthy learning environment. Energy-efficient mechanical systems, the use of locally-recirculated air for cooling, low-flow fume hoods, and other sustainable elements are used throughout the building.

Project Information

Building Owner:

Washington University

Building Location:

St. Louis, Missouri UNITED STATES

Project Type:

New Construction

Principal Building Function:

Research and teaching

Project Delivery Method:

Construction Management

Project Timeline

Jan 2000	Planning Start
Sep 2001	Design Start
Jul 2002	Construction Start
Jul 2004	Completion
Last known status: Completed

Construction Cost:

$33,700,000

Cost Per Sq. Ft:

$222

About These Cost Figures

Building Information

Project Includes:

Astronomy
Biochemistry
Chemistry
Cleanroom
Education
Geology
Laboratory: Teaching
Museum
Research

Total GSF:

150,180

Project Team

Architect

Tsoi/Kobus & Associates Inc.

Builder

Tarlton Corporation

Consultant - Accoustical

Engineering Dynamics International

Consultant - Code

Code Consultants Incorporated

Consultant - Lighting

Sylvan R. Schemitz Associates

Consultant - Specifications

Kalin Associates Inc.

Consultant - Surveyor

J. R. Grimes Consulting Engineers

Engineer - MEP

William Tao & Associates

Engineer - Civil

J. R. Grimes Consulting Engineers

Engineer - Geotechnical

Geotech Inc.

Laboratory Planner

GPR Planners Collaborative, Inc.

Landscape Architect

Austin Tao & Associates

Supplier - Laboratory Fixtures

Fisher Hamilton

Supplier - Laboratory Furniture

Fisher Hamilton

Profile Created 08/22/2007

Last Updated 10/12/2007

About the Reported Cost Figures

The cost figures reported are supplied by the firms that submitted these projects for publication, which in most cases are the designers or builders. Whereas these sources are intimately familiar with their projects, they may not be fully aware of the owners' finally-realized and recorded costs. In some cases, costs are truly and completely accounted for, and in others they represent a near approximation of the final costs. Costs have not been adjusted for year of construction, nor has any attempt been made to make regional cost adjustments.

Further, costs are not comparable on any kind of detailed standard costing model. Hence, it is possible for the cost of one building to include a steam boiler, while the cost of a comparable building might not include the boiler, if steam is being supplied from an already existing campus grid. Or, in another case, a building might include excess boiler capacity to supply steam to another building. Some submittals include fees or unusual site improvements as part of the construction costs, which others do not.

Fig. 1

Exterior

Earth and Planetary Sciences building at Washington University provides the first real “home” for the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. (Photo courtesy of Tsoi/Kobus & Associates, copyright Debbie Franke.)

Fig. 2

Lounge Spaces

Comfortable lounge spaces, conference rooms, and shared teaching space promote interaction among the researchers and students. (Photo courtesy of Tsoi/Kobus & Associates, copyright Debbie Franke.)

Fig. 3

Wet Lab

Distinct research neighborhoods are designed for wet chemistry and dry research. Any peninsula bench can be connected to a lab utility bench and have access to any of the utilities depending on the current needs of the research. This flexibility allows for easy reconfiguring from dry to wet labs.

Fig. 4

Lab Interior

Functional and flexible teaching and labs provide space for physical science, chemistry, biochemistry, and specialized analytical functions.

Fig. 5

Sustainable Design

Sustainable design elements include siting to help reduce heating and cooling loads, extensive use of natural lighting, energy-efficient mechanical systems, the use of locally-recirculated air for cooling, low-flow fume hoods, and other sustainable elements throughout the building.