Clinical Sciences Building, LSU Medical Center

Contractor: Brice Building Co. Inc., Metairie
Location: New Orleans
Cost: $35 million
Project manager: Greg Farnet
Jobsite superintendent: Don Plaisance
Architect: Cimini, Meric, Burns, Counce - A Professional Corp., New Orleans.

The design and construction of this multi-level laboratory research facility evolved through a systematic and complex process. The need for a facility of this size - approximately 200,000 sq. ft. and at a cost of approximately $35 million - warranted a great deal of planning and justification.

The planning and programming of the facility was performed for the university by specialists to identify the programmatic spaces and relationships. In addition, each laboratory function was established and identified with services and laboratory layouts.

The design of the facility was also challenged with various design constraints. Site constraints such as size and grade elevations as related to bridge tie-ins for pedestrians and utilities. Various pedestrian and utility bridges connect the LSU Health Sciences Center. The building also is furnished with chilled and hot water from a central utility plant.

Prior to the Schematic Phase Layouts being developed, a complete zoning analysis was performed along with code analysis for all disciplines of the work. The design constraints were identified and utilized to assist the designers in the actual design process. The square footage and departmental relationships were studied in an effort to provide the user with an adequate stacking layout for the seven-story building, while at the same time maintaining desired relationships between and within each department.

Burden factors, locations of mechanical and electrical systems, exits etc., were some of the important constraints that were evaluated during the design process.

Once the layouts were finalized and approved through extensive hours of meetings and dialogue with the user agency, the exterior wall system was studied along with the complex interior partition system. The exterior wall system consisted of granite and an insulated structural silicone glazing system. The interior partition system consisted of masonry with epoxy finish in the animal care areas and gypsum board on metal studs in administration areas.