Science Project

U of H Expands With Science and Engineering Complex

By Rob Patterson

Architect Cesar Pelli designed the University of Houston's new science and engineering complex

For modern universities to become leaders in higher education, research has become almost as vital as teaching. The University of Houston is addressing both priorities with the $41.5 million Science and Engineering Research and Classroom Complex.

The complex is made up of two adjoining structures being built by Houston-based Vaughn Construction Co. and designed by famed architect Cesar Pelli of New Haven, Conn.

The five-story, 200,000-sq.-ft. science and engineering research facility is a concrete structure of all 90-degree angles. The two-story, 32,000-sq.-ft. classroom and auditorium building next to it is a curved, steel-frame structure. "There's not a straight line in there," said Vaughn project manager Rodney Moore. "You get a new radius every 30 ft., which is a bit difficult."

Work began in February 2004 under a construction-manager-at-risk contract and is slated for completion in June.

The differing programs in the buildings determined the choice of materials. "In the laboratory building, because vibration is a concern, the concrete structure made a lot of sense," said John O'Connell, principal in charge for Kendall/Heaton Associates, the Houston-based architect of record. "For the classroom building, because of its shape and two-story size, steel made a lot more sense."

He added that material selection was driven by cost and practical concerns, and each building was looked at separately. The two-story steel structure won't require fireproofing, while the five-story steel building will.

The new science and engineering structures are the result of a university decision made several years ago. "We decided we would aggressively expand our research to become a tier-one research institution," said Dave Irvin, the school's associate vice chancellor and associate vice president for facilities and plant operation. "We had a huge need for research space and also a large need for classrooms because our campus is growing.

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"In the last three years we've increased our research activity from $35 million to $100 million. But we knew that if we wanted to take it any further, we really needed new facilities."

The laboratory building is being built as a shell with open laboratory spaces to accommodate interdisciplinary research in nanobiotechnology, DNA chips, protein chips, synthetic medicinal chemistry, drug design, nanolithography, materials and optoelectronics.

"We had to do prototypes and establish a program for each floor to anticipate what the utility needs would be," O'Connell said. "It's a Swiss watch of a building with a lot of different building systems in there."

Irvin said the building is being left as shell space "because it gives us a lot of flexibility in terms of encouraging new ideas and recruiting faculty. When they come to the University of Houston, we can say, "We're willing to take our building and structure it for the ideas you want to pursue.'"

The majority of the mechanical facilities for the structure are on its roof, hidden by louvered screen walls. Its north face is curtain wall. The three other sides mix glass and 2 ft. by 4 ft. concrete panels with limestone slabs cast in them.

Although the building itself is relatively straightforward, its financing wasn't, Irvin said. "It is not only collaborative in how the faculty will use it, but it was collaborative in how it was funded and the resources it brings together - everything from the National Institutes of Health funding to a wide variety of foundations and corporations to state money. I think the days of taking taxpayer dollars and having a building totally funded by that are long gone."

A 400-ft. utility tunnel had to be built across the site before work began. "We had to go in and increase the size of our chilled water lines for the needs of the complex as a whole," said U of H project manager Russ Wallace.

A 50-ft., third-floor structural-steel bridge also had to be built to connect the science and research tower to a nearby existing building without disrupting ongoing classes.

For the classroom building, which contains a 7,000-sq.-ft., 550-seat auditorium and 11 classrooms of varying size, O'Connell said the daunting aspect was the geometry for design and construction. "The curves require more setup and thought to make all the parts resolve themselves," he said.

Project manager Moore added, "Our steel detailer took a lot longer to detail this project and to fabricate it because most of the members are rolled and bent."

The oval exterior of the auditorium features brick set at a 45-degreee angle. Inside the auditorium, which will be used for events open to the community, build-outs include high-end wood ceilings and walls with limestone features.

On the classroom section, bricks clad the first story with curtain wall on the second. A covered breezeway on the ground level connects it to the science and engineering tower. A breezeway on the second story is covered with metal panels that wrap up and around. Between the two buildings, a 60-ft.-long water feature of natural stone rises 5 ft.

The project has many results for the university. "It turns what was a parking lot, a nondescript part of campus, and background buildings into a new academic quadrangle," Irvin said. "It enhances the campus on a lot of levels."

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