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)
Supplier - HVAC		Baltimore Air Coil
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.