IMEG provided engineering design for a confidential pharmaceutical company’s new research and development facility at Iowa State University Research Park.

The 52,000-sf facility features an open concept designed for collaboration and interaction of up to 100 scientists conducting research in swine, cattle, equine, canine, and feline. The first floor
is comprised of almost 30,000-sf of laboratory space that includes BSL1 and BSL2 labs and associated lab support spaces. Spaces within the laboratories included areas for incubators, centrifuges, and autoclaves, along with a necropsy room. Many of the lab spaces included ante rooms to control spreading of viruses and bacteria. Large windows in the labs and glass walls in the office areas allow researchers to connect with each other while also bringing in natural lighting. The second floor houses meeting spaces, dining space, a large conference room cantilevered over the building’s lobby, and a break room connected to a roof-level patio with green roof. Other support spaces include locker rooms and receiving area with loading dock.

The second floor office area is conditioned by two additional VAV gas-fired DX rooftop units. High-efficiency, 100-BHP condensing boilers are sized for N+1 redundancy and supply hot water for radiant heat around the office area perimeter as well as for in-floor radiant heat zones in the lobby and second floor cantilever areas. High-efficiency water heaters provide domestic hot water to the potable and industrial hot water circulation loops. A sophisticated building management system provides optimization of equipment control strategies and links with the owner’s other facilities in the area.

Challenges included a condensed schedule, long-span support, maintaining proper pressure relationships between spaces, flexibility for future expansion and preparation of multiple bid packages.