Awarded High Honors in the 2004 Laboratory of the Year competition, the 133,000-gsf facility sits on a 10-acre plot purchased from the University of California. The two entities are looking forward to a possible partnership, which may include field or part-time work for students majoring in the biological sciences, chemistry, or environmental analysis. The building will accommodate both the district office and laboratories that will test one quarter of the imported food shipments FDA tests every year.

The lab wings are built around the concept of linking interchangeable lab modules, and each are provided with a standardized set of mechanical, electrical, piping, and plumbing services. Three two-story rectangular lab wings are linked via exterior stairs. Offices are located on the east end of the building and enjoy a glass wall that looks out onto the San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh Reserve.

The new labs are equipped for analytical work including food chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, medical device engineering, entomology, drugs, pesticides, and spectrometry. Modularity of both the office and lab space allows for long-term flexibility in the use of the space. Both office areas and labs are designed to be as open as possible, while accommodating the limited number of programmatically enclosed spaces at the end of the wings. This layout encourages collaboration between multi-disciplined users.

The ground level is comprised of laboratory, laboratory services, and district operations spaces. Also located on this level are the conference center and dining area. The facility includes a library and training area.

The FDA district office coordinates inspection, compliance, administrative, and public affairs activities within its assigned geographical area. Its operations include the oversight of about 10,450 firms involved in the production, warehousing and transportation of food, medical devices, drugs, biologics, veterinary products, dietary supplements, and cosmetics. The district office will occupy 47,580 sf and include a large conference room, hearing rooms, and a library.

Project Information
Building Owner:		U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Owner Contact:		Patricia Calhoun, Contracting Officer
Building Location:		Irvine, Calif. UNITED STATES
Project Type:		New Construction
Principal Building Function:		Inspection and Research
Project Timeline		Mar 2001 Construction Start May 2003 Completion Last known status: Completed
Construction Cost:		$40,000,000
Cost Per Sq. Ft:		$255
		About These Cost Figures
Building Information
Project Includes:		Biochemistry Chemistry Laboratory Library Office Research Research: Biomedical
Total GSF:		133,000
Total NSF:		74,000
Efficiency:		52%
Special Equip:		PW, N2, lab air, compressed air, vacuum
Office Size:		120 NSF
Structure/Foundation:		Labs-concrete with concrete spread footings; Office-steel with concrete spread footings
Laboratory Parameters
Lab Module:		3.3m x 7.3m
Casework Mat'l:		Steel casework with epoxy resin tops
Fume Hoods:		46 between 4´ and 10´
Biosafety Cabinets:		4 Class II, Type B3
Project Team
Architect		Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP
Construction Management		Gilbane Building Company
Engineer		HDR Architecture Inc.
Profile Created 11/26/2003
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.