Life Science Center | Tradeline, Inc.

The four-story building was reprogrammed to keep as much as the existing structure in tact as possible. Larger departments, like Chemistry and Biology were relocated to the new 60,000-sf addition, while smaller departments were centralized to improve efficiencies. In addition to the Chemistry and Biology departments, the Life Sciences building houses an animal research laboratory; Physics; Geology; Engineering; Math and Statistics; Economics and Business; Nursing, and Elementary Education.

The replacement and improvement of the building's mechanical and electrical systems were a significant component of the project. A high velocity exhaust system was utilized in conjunction with minimum height stacks in order to protect a large telescope on the roof. By implementing both scenarios, the hot air exhaust came out fast and was dispersed over a large area quickly. Numerous fume hoods were installed to accommodate the teaching laboratories within the Chemistry Department.

All interior and exterior spaces are in compliance with ADA requirements and the College's Building Design Standards.

Project Information

Building Owner:

Calvin College

Owner Contact:

Gaylen Byker

Building Location:

Grand Rapids, MI UNITED STATES

Project Type:

Expansion

Principal Building Function:

Academic, research

Project Timeline

Mar 1997	Planning Start
Jul 1997	Design Start
May 1998	Construction Start
Aug 1999	Completion
Last known status: Completed

Project Cost:

$22,000,000

Construction Cost:

$13,500,000

Cost Per Sq. Ft:

$186

About These Cost Figures

Building Information

Project Includes:

Biology
Chemistry
Education: Classroom
Laboratory: Teaching
Vivarium

Total GSF:

72,377

Total NSF:

49,231

Efficiency:

68%

Building Population:

1200

People Density:

60 gsf/person

Building Services:

DI, H2, Oz, air, vacuum

Office Size:

10' x 11' NSF

Power Req:

20 w/nsf

Structure/Foundation:

Concrete waffle slab, concrete columns, concrete spread footings

Laboratory Parameters

Lab Module:

20' x 30'

Casework Mat'l:

Wood casework with resin tops

Fume Hoods:

53 @ 4' single hood to 8' walk-in hood

Project Team

Architect

URS Corporation

Consultant - Laboratory Planner

Research Facilities Design (RFD)

Engineer

URS Corporation

Profile Created 03/31/2001

Last Updated 04/04/2006

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

Life Science Center