Physics & Astronomy Laboratory Building

The initial step in the programming process involved a series of goal setting meetings utilizing the nominal group technique (NGT). NGT is a technique used for surfacing diverse opinions and establishing consensus among the primary players on a project who, while having a common goal, may have diverse opinions about how to achieve a goal. In this instance, design goals were discussed and prioritized. Once design goals were established, preliminary space requirements were developed after an extensive interview and review process with nearly thirty individuals. The interview format included a discussion of current and future staffing, current and projected research programs, and inter- and intra-adjacency requirements. This process resulted in a program designed to allow the users and the building committee the opportunity to understand what the facility would include based on a 'wish list'approach.

Following the preparation of four conceptual schemes designed to test the space implications of the program, the original plan was modified and issued as a final program document.

Project Information

Building Owner:

Rutgers University

Owner Contact:

John F. Reda, AlA, Project Director

Building Location:

Piscataway, NJ UNITED STATES

Project Type:

New Construction,Expansion,Renovation

Principal Building Function:

Research and teaching labs, faculty offices, library, learning center.

Project Delivery Method:

Construction Management

Project Timeline

Feb 1987	Planning Start
Apr 1987	Design Start
Oct 1988	Construction Start
Jun 1990	Completion
Last known status: Completed

Project Cost:

$14,000,000

Construction Cost:

$11,900,000

Cost Per Sq. Ft:

$138

About These Cost Figures

Building Information

Project Includes:

Astronomy
Education
Education: Faculty Office
Education: Library
Education: Physics
Laboratory: Dry
Laboratory: Teaching
Research

Total GSF:

86,435

Total NSF:

50,325

Efficiency:

58%

Building Population:

310

People Density:

279 gsf/person

Building Services:

Piped Services: natural gas, compressed air, nitrogen gas, chilled water, helium gas reclaim, vacuum

Office Size:

170 NSF

Power Req:

15.3 w/nsf Lighting: 2.5 w/nsf Equipment: 8.0 w/nsf Power: 4.8 w/nsf

HVAC Req:

2.0 cfm/nsf

Structure/Foundation:

Cast-in-place concrete joist system with spread footings

Laboratory Parameters

Lab Module:

12' x 30'

Casework Mat'l:

Minimal casework; standard manufactured products used.

Fume Hoods:

Two provided, provisions for two future hoods

Biosafety Cabinets:

None

Project Team

Architect

Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Inc. (HOK)

Consultant - Civil

Paulus, Sokolowski & Sartor

Consultant - Electrical

Joseph R. Loring & Associates, Inc.

Consultant - Mechanical

Joseph R. Loring & Associates, Inc.

Consultant - Structural

Paulus, Sokolowski & Sartor

Contractor

Epic, Incorporated

Supplier

Whiting Corp.

Supplier - Elevators

Advance Elevator

Supplier - Fume Hoods

Fisher Hamilton

Supplier - HVAC

Baltimore Air Coil

Supplier - HVAC

Carrier Corp.

Supplier - Observatory Dome

Ash Dome

Supplier - Switchgear

Westinghouse Electric Co.

Profile Created 06/01/1990

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

Floorplan

Fig. 2

Exterior