Printer Friendly Version
Send to a Friend
Complete StoryThe $45-million Vontz Center is an element of the University's Master Plan 2000 and the Medical Center's strategic plan for developing world-class leadership in molecular-based health science research. Research at the center will seek to find causes and cures for cancer and diseases of the brain and central nervous system.
Situated on 3.5 acres in the southwest section of the medical center campus, the Vontz Center forms a surprising and striking sculpture. The curved brick panels create an unusual geometry and the projected curtainwall windows provide a high level of daylight to the lab and office spaces.
The Vontz Center consists of three floors with walkable, seven-foot interstitial space per floor with open lab space, core support areas, office suites, a lobby, and lecture hall. The open lab areas, modular work spaces, office clusters, common areas, and adaptable utilities readily accessible through the interstitial space are designed to encourage interaction among researchers and provide an environment responsive to changing research needs. A central atrium space is designed to create a social environment that promotes interaction and collaboration among the researchers.
Labs are located in the two blocks north and south of the atrium. Scientists' offices are grouped outside the lab to provide for private work and group and team communications. Conference rooms and huddle spaces are convenient in all office and lab areas. Large interior windows carry daylight from the researchers' offices into the interior lab space dedicated to clerical functions.
The 10'-6" x 30' lab planning modules have four basic configurations, which provide most of the variations necessary for research. The module size provides maximum bench space and equipment area in the most economical manner. Each module has all necessary utility services for biomedical research. A typical "block" of eight modules has three five-foot fume hoods, considerable floor space for equipment, and direct access to support labs consisting of tissue culture, dark rooms, dark procedure rooms, equipment rooms, controlled temperature rooms, radioisotope containment areas, electron microscopy, glass wash/autoclave, and special HEPA culture rooms. Other special labs include a molecular biology core lab, physiology lab, and electro-physiology room. Animal holding, procedure, and behavior study rooms are contained on the lower level of the facility.
The interstitial floors provide a number of advantages including the fact that each lab can be modified independent of adjacent areas; HVAC equipment and ductwork is readily accessible; and each lab module has its own associated piping valves, panelboards, and ductwork with VAV and digital control systems.
Entry into the Vontz Center is restricted by card key access, which is only one of several high-level safety measures built into the facility. Others include lab areas that require additional card key access; HVAC and fume hood systems that are computer actuated VAV air valves for complete control; and eyewash and safety showers located at the corridor between open labs and support labs.
The Vontz Center has recently been awarded "Special Mention for Lab Design and Lighting" in R&D Magazine's Lab of the Year program.
| Project Information | ||||||||||
| Building Owner: |  |
University of Cincinnati Medical Center | ||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Owner Contact: | Donald Harrison, M.D., Senior Vice President University of Cincinnati Medical Center | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Building Location: | Cincinnati , OH UNITED STATES | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Project Type: | New Construction | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Principal Building Function: | Medical Research | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Project Delivery Method: | Individual Bid Packages | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Project Timeline |
|
|||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Project Cost: | $45,100,000 | |||||||||
| Construction Cost: | $36,700,000 | |||||||||
| Cost Per Sq. Ft: | $245 | |||||||||
| About These Cost Figures | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Building Information | ||||||||||
| Project Includes: |
Atrium Conference Room Laboratory: Biomedical Research Laboratory: Research Laboratory: Wet Office |
|||||||||
| Total GSF: | 150,189 | |||||||||
| Total NSF: | 89,150 | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Building Population: | 346 | |||||||||
| People Density: | 434 gsf/person | |||||||||
| Building Services: | Air, gas, vacuum, RO water | |||||||||
| Special Equip: | Sterilizer, glass wash | |||||||||
| Office Size: | 10' x 12' NSF | |||||||||
| Power Req: | Lighting: 1.9 w/sf Equipment: 14.8 w/sf | |||||||||
| HVAC Req: | Laboratory: 2.2 cfm/sf Office: 1.2 cfm/sf | |||||||||
| Structure/Foundation: | Cast-in-place concrete frame with drilled concrete caissons | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Laboratory Parameters | ||||||||||
| Lab Module: | 10'-6" x 30' | |||||||||
| Casework Mat'l: | C-frame, epoxy tops | |||||||||
| Fume Hoods: | 54 @ 6' | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Project Team | ||||||||||
| Architect | BHDP Architecture | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Architect | Frank O. Gehry & Associates | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Contractor | Dugan & Meyers Construction Inc. | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Engineer - MEP | H.A. Williams Associates, Inc. | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Engineer - Structural | THP Limited | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Laboratory Planner | Earl Walls Associates | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Laboratory Programmer | Frank Zilm Associates | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Landscape Architect | Vivian Llambi Associates | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Supplier - Casework | Fisher Hamilton | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Supplier - Electrical | Ayer Electrical Co. | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Supplier - Fire Protection | Dalmation Fire Protection | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Supplier - Fume Hoods | Fisher Hamilton | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Supplier - Furniture | Knoll International | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Supplier - Lighting | Lam Partners Inc. | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Supplier - Mechanical | RPC Mechanical | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Supplier - Plumbing | Croson-Teepe Mechanical Contractors | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Profile Created 10/01/2000 | ||||||||||
| Last Updated 04/04/2006 | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
|
||||||||||
Copyright 2008 Tradeline Inc.
All Rights Reserved
ISSN: 1096-4894
Exterior View
Situated on 3.5 acres in the southwest section of the medical center campus, the Vontz Center forms a surprising and striking sculpture. The curved brick panels create an unusual geometry and the projected curtainwall windows provide a high level of daylight to the lab and office spaces.
Laboratory
The 10'-6'' x 30' lab planning modules have four basic configurations, which provide most of the variations necessary for research.
