Photo courtesy of Flad Architects © Hedrich Blessing Photography 2007

Underground passageways interlink the four buildings. Designed for minimal impact on the existing landscape, 65,000 sf is below grade. This serves also to match the scale of Simon Hall to the existing century-old buildings. A 26,000-sf space located directly beneath the grassy knoll at the center of the science quadrangle ensures a quiet, vibration free environment for sensitive instrumentation.

Three generic laboratory models are dedicated to the full spectrum of sciences that include biology, chemistry, cognitive science, physics, and biochemistry. Each are modular and easily reconfigurable to suit individual research demands. Consistent size and layout allows space to be quickly reassigned. Uniform support zones, which are adaptable for a variety of uses, including chemical and media preparation, equipment rooms, tissue culture, dark, cold, or constant temperature rooms, are directly adjacent to the labs. Instrumentation laboratories are built around an open “dance floor” concept, allowing them to be easily changed for evolving research needs. The fixed casework, hoods, and sinks are located around the perimeter of the lab, with utilities provided via overhead service carriers. The peninsulas use mobile instrument carts, mobile tables, and mobile equipment carts. Fixed casework is free of utility services, simplifying reconfiguration. Simon Hall is outfitted with built-in mechanical and systems capacity to reconfigure or add more fume hoods as needed. Utilities are available at standardized lab locations; including reverse osmosis water, laboratory hot and cold water, natural gas, compressed air, cylinder gas, laboratory vacuum, and domestic water. Duct and pipe routing allows for highest capacity use on any of the lab floors.

Simon Hall’s core facilities include a high field NMR facility, a BSL-3 facility which includes two suites for virology and bacteriology studies, an ISO 6 (formerly class 1,000) cleanroom, a high-resolution cryo-transmission electron microscope capable of nanoscale resolution, and an x-ray crystallography suite dedicated to crystal research.

Simon Hall operates two types of heat recovery systems. A high efficiency (up to 75 percent efficient) enthalpy wheel recovers both sensible and latent heat energy from the occupied spaces. A run-around loop (up to 35 percent efficient) is used for the more than 120 biosafety cabinets and fume hoods eliminating the chance of cross contamination between the outgoing and incoming air streams. Variable air volume conserves both heat and running time of the ventilation systems. Lasers and other lab equipment are cooled by an efficient chilled water cascade system which optimizes the return coolant for reprocessing by the central utility plant. Water is conserved through high efficiency fixtures. Occupancy sensors in offices and conference rooms conserve electricity. Natural lighting is provided throughout most of the occupied spaces, including many below grade areas.

Built for more than a century of use, Simon Hall uses durable materials that ensure campus design continuity, beauty and longevity. The building has a poured concrete frame on bedrock, filled in with a concrete block shell. The exterior is finished with limestone that, as with the adjacent century-old buildings, was locally quarried and milled. The interior finishes, including terrazzo flooring, are equally resilient, constructed for longevity and sustainability with robust materials and craftsmanship.

Simon Hall is designed to be a permanent part of Indiana’s beloved campus. Echoing the adjacent 1930s art moderne Myers Hall, it incorporates many of that building’s design elements in its distinctive Indiana collegiate gothic architecture. Simon Hall is a comfortable, inspiring, collaborative space with inviting gathering areas, a rustic terrace, and balconies at many points in the building to provide access to the outdoors and connection with the adjacent science quadrangle. It is an actual and philosophical intersection of the chemistry, biology, and physics departments. Into the next century, Simon Hall will foster exchange and collaboration for interdisciplinary research across multiple scientific disciplines.

Content for this profile provided by Flad Architects.

Project Information
Building Owner:		Indiana University
Building Location:		Bloomington, Indiana UNITED STATES
Project Type:		New Construction
Principal Building Function:		Multi-disciplinary science research
Project Delivery Method:		Design/Bid/Build
Project Timeline		Oct 2000 Planning Start Oct 2002 Design Start Oct 2002 Construction Start Nov 2007 Completion Last known status: Completed
Project Cost:		$59,930,317
Construction Cost:		$46,647,816
Cost Per Sq. Ft:		$332
		About These Cost Figures
Building Information
Project Includes:		Biochemistry Cleanroom Education Education: Classroom Education: Physics Laboratory Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Total GSF:		140,412
Project Team
Architect		Flad Architects
Contractor - Electrical		AAA Electric of Terre Haute Inc.
Contractor - Mechanical		Heflin Industries
Cost Estimator		Thomason Clark Corporation
Engineer		Affiliated Engineers Inc. (AEI)
Engineer - Civil		Bledsoe Riggert & Guerrettaz
Engineer - Structural		Flad Structural Engineers
General Contractor		F. A. Wilhelm Construction Company
Supplier - Carpet		Blakely Corporation
Supplier - Environmental Enclosures		Thermolinear
Supplier - Fume Hoods		Thermo Fisher Scientific
Supplier - Laboratory Fixtures		WaterSaver Faucet Co.
Supplier - Laboratory Furnishing		Harry J. Kloeppel & Associates
Supplier - Terrazzo		American Art Mosaic & Tile Co.
Profile Created 06/20/2009
Last Updated 06/08/2009
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.

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