Biomedical Library | Tradeline, Inc.

The UCSD Biomedical Library has served as an information resource not only to the campus community, including the UCSD School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, but also to the San Diego region's dynamic biotechnology and life sciences communities and area physicians. The library collections were temporarily relocated to the UCSD Geisel Library during the construction project.

The renovated and expanded library now features a 24-hour graduate study lounge, high-density movable shelving, specialized research collaborative areas for semi-private study, research and group study/consultation rooms, networked computer stations and training facilities, as well as wireless Internet access throughout the building. The existing space was renovated to allow for more natural light, and includes new carpet, paint, light fixtures, and ceiling domes. An open-air walkway through the building also was added, providing a thoroughfare from the south to the north.

Constructed of concrete and a steel-braced frame, the three-level library addition features a distinctive cast-in-place pitched roof with steel core, designed to complement the roof structure of the existing facility.

This distinguishing feature was one of the most challenging aspects of the project. The so-called "flying wing," composed of concrete and a metal deck core, protrudes 11 feet from the building and slopes upward at a 20-degree angle.

Timing construction of the roof addition to coincide with the remainder of the building posed a unique construction challenge. Drywall and other materials could not be installed until the roof was in place to prevent any leaks or other water damage. However, the time required to construct the dual-material structure with difficult cantilevered angles could possibly have set the project months behind schedule. In order to prevent potential delays, a patented Gass formwork system was used to manipulate the elevation of the angles with more flexibility, and ensure the joints would properly line up. Camber radius beams were incorporated to provide solid support of the structure.

Timing of the roof construction also was an issue in fireproofing the building's structural steel below the roof. Steel cannot be fireproofed until the building's roof has been constructed; normally, the roof would be installed, the building fireproofed, then the mechanical/electrical/plumbing work performed. In this case, to prevent any major project delays, the mechanical/electrical/ plumbing work was hung overhead before the roof was finished, and the building was fireproofed at a later time, once the roof had been constructed.

A number of unforeseen challenges impacted the project, causing delays and program changes. Before construction of the new addition even began, asbestos was discovered in the existing building's carpet, causing the project to be delayed an entire month. Because timing was of major significance to this project, it was important to find new ways to recover time lost in the early construction phases. For example, instead of spreading the sand under the slab on grade through the use of a forklift and several workers, the sand was pumped, requiring only two workers to operate the machine and evenly distribute the sand.

Content for this profile was provided by McCarthy Building Companies Inc.

Project Information

Building Owner:

University of California, San Diego

Building Location:

La Jolla, California UNITED STATES

Project Type:

Renovation

Principal Building Function:

Biomedical research library

Project Delivery Method:

General Contractor

Project Timeline

Apr 2006	Completion
Last known status: Completed

Project Cost:

$17,000,000

About These Cost Figures

Building Information

Project Includes:

Biomedical

Total GSF:

43,454

Project Team

Architect

Pfeiffer Partners

Consultant - Site

T.B. Penick & Sons Inc.

Engineer - MEP

TKG Consulting Engineering Inc.

Engineer - Civil

Burkett & Wong

Engineer - Structural

Yousseff & Associates

General Contractor

McCarthy Building Companies Inc.

Landscape Architect

Katherine Spitz and Associates

Supplier - Concrete

Volcast Materials Company

Supplier - Drywall

Best Interiors Inc.

Supplier - Electrical

Neal Electric Inc.

Supplier - Elevators

Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA

Supplier - Fire Protection

Cosco Fire Protection Inc.

Supplier - Glass Block

Tower Glass Inc.

Supplier - HVAC

A.O. Reed & Company

Supplier - Paint

Alonso Painting

Supplier - Plumbing

A.O. Reed & Company

Supplier - Roofing

Best Roofing & Waterproofing Inc.

Supplier - Steel

Pacific Coast Steel Inc.

Supplier - Steel

McMahon Steel Company Inc.

Profile Created 09/10/2008

Last Updated 08/29/2008

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.