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.
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.