The $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		Mar 1993 Planning Start Sep 1993 Design Start Dec 1996 Construction Start Sep 1999 Target Completion
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
Profile Created 10/01/2000
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.