The building is organized vertically to respond to the differing levels of activity represented by science programs. Teaching laboratories and educational spaces are located on the first level to accommodate the continuous transition of students. Levels two and three are dedicated to research programs; level two also connects to the existing Biology II building. Level four contains a greenhouse/headhouse, aligned to maximize the sun-angle orientation.

The main body of the building is divided into two halves--the north half is a four-story rectilinear block that primarily contains support spaces for research and building services and the southern half consists of a two-story rectilinear research block with clustered offices at each end over a first level base. The offices on the west end emphasize the main entrance into the building below. The first level base is recessed at the teaching laboratories to help define a pedestrian scale along this major exterior walkway.

Two major elements, an auditorium and a seminar room, project from the lab block at the first level. These elements are intended to be focal points to accentuate the entry. An angled wall along the auditorium transitions into the lobby space.

The exterior skin material includes brick masonry, metal panels and glass. The south facade of the building is constructed of aluminum and insulated glass with varying transparency levels that relate to the modular laboratory layout inside. Metal panel construction is used at the east end and above the entrance to express the functional transition from laboratory to individual office space. Brick masonry is used on the north rectilinear block to match the colors and textures of the existing buildings. A burnt colored red stone is used on the angled auditorium wall, the lobby interior wall and the seminar room to unite these spaces.

Project Information
Building Owner:		University of Iowa
Owner Contact:		Stephen Buckman, University Architect
Building Location:		Iowa City, IA UNITED STATES
Project Type:		New Construction
Principal Building Function:		Teaching and Research
Project Delivery Method:		General Contractor
Project Timeline		Mar 1995 Planning Start Apr 1996 Design Start Oct 1997 Construction Start Sep 1999 Completion Last known status: Completed
Project Cost:		$17,700,000
Construction Cost:		$13,100,000
Cost Per Sq. Ft:		$192
		About These Cost Figures
Building Information
Project Includes:		Auditorium Biology Education Education: Classroom Education: Lecture Or Seminar Hall Laboratory: Research Laboratory: Teaching
Total GSF:		56,600
Total NSF:		34,000
Efficiency:		60%
Building Services:		Di, natural gas, compressed air, vacuum
Office Size:		150 NSF
HVAC Req:		1.10 cfm/nsf
Structure/Foundation:		Concrete pan joist with concrete piles, grade beam
Laboratory Parameters
Lab Module:		20' x 26' 6"
Casework Mat'l:		Wood with epoxy resin countertops
Fume Hoods:		24: 4?-6?
Project Team
Architect		Brooks, Borg & Skiles
Consultant - Laboratory Design		Research Facilities Design (RFD)
Supplier - Building Automation Controls		Johnson Controls Inc.
Supplier - Casework		Fisher Hamilton
Supplier - Fume Hoods		Fisher Hamilton
Profile Created 09/01/1999
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.

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