Hildebrand Hall Laser Research Laboratory
Completion Date June 1998
Published March 2001
The 5,000-sf Laser Research Laboratory is the focal point of Chemistry Department's new Physical Bioscience Group, which concentrates its research on the application of ultrafast spectroscopy to various chemical and biological phenomena.
The lab is on the basement level of Hildebrand Hall, a laboratory/classroom building constructed in the 1960s. A basement location is ideal for laser research because it ensures considerably less structural vibration, is removed from student traffic, and can be placed in total darkness during daylight hours. The laboratory is a self-contained facility with four laser labs arranged around a core of support and interaction spaces as well as researcher offices.
During the programming phase the supplier of the laser tables completed on-site vibration testing to ensure the ambient vibration was within the performance criteria for the tables and the delicate research they would support.
Other major design concerns were temperature stability, minimizing air turbulence around the laser experiments, and minimizing airborne particulates introduced into the labs. To satisfy these requirements, the HVAC scheme is a stand-alone system of small, individual air handlers supported on vibration isolators and suspended from the concrete floor slab above the lab corridor. The units, supplied by central hot water and chilled water loops, were designed to accommodate HEPA or standard filter banks. To provide thorough mixing of room air with minimal disturbance, ceiling diffusers were located at the corners of the laser rooms. The air is returned into the ceiling plenum through a large ceiling opening above the laser table in each room. Individual temperature and humidity controls for each laser room ensure a one-degree Fahrenheit temperature delta during experiments, which can take as long as eight hours to run.
A flexible floor plan allows running different laser experiments concurrently, fosters a high degree of interaction, and provides a safe and comfortable work environment.
| Building Owner: |
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University of California, Berkeley |
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Owner Contact:
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Robert Bluhm, Senior Project Manager
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Building Location:
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Berkeley, CA UNITED STATES
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Project Type:
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Renovation
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Principal Building Function:
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Research laboratory |
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Project Timeline
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| May 1997 | Planning Start |
| Jun 1997 | Design Start |
| Jan 1998 | Construction Start |
| Jun 1998 | Completion |
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Last known status: Completed
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| Construction Cost: |
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$1,200,000 |
| Cost Per Sq. Ft: |
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$240 |
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About These Cost Figures
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Project Includes:
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Chemistry
Education
Education: Classroom
Laboratory: Research
Laboratory: Teaching
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| Total GSF: |
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6,200 |
| Total NSF: |
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3,820 |
| Efficiency: |
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62% |
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Building Services:
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Vacuum; compressed air (25 psi), high-pressure compressed air (90 psi), nitrogen, chilled water, 480V, 208V, 120V power receptacles
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Special Equip:
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Laser tables (air balanced)
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Office Size:
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56 NSF
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Power Req:
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35 w/nsf
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HVAC Req:
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2.5 cfm/nsf
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Lab Module:
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12' x 27'
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Casework Mat'l:
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Wood casework with epoxy tops
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Fume Hoods:
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1 @ 6'
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| Profile Created 03/31/2001 |
| Last Updated 01/02/2007 |
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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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Hildebrand Hall Photo courtesy of VDK Architects Notes:
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