News
Portland State University Science Building 2 Latest in Series of IDC Architects Sustainable University Projects
By: Ted Johnson
Source: CH2M HILL
May 5, 2010 - Universities everywhere are struggling with the same challenge preoccupying the private sector – how to do more with less in an era of scarce capital for new projects.
In the past it was more routine for universities to update campuses by knocking down outdated buildings and replacing them with new ones. These days the trend is to update old buildings.
This approach brings benefits in two ways; it costs less than building new, and it’s more sustainable to repurpose an existing structure than to tear down the old one and build a new one.
IDC Architects has successfully adapted to these changing market conditions by finding imaginative ways to greatly improve the appearance and functionality of university buildings at much lower cost in both dollars and carbon impact.
A recent university upgrade project that’s gotten some press coverage is the Portland State University Science Building 2 project in Oregon, which is currently under construction. This is a major upgrade and addition to one of the largest buildings on the PSU campus, which will become the centerpiece of PSU’s new Science Research and Teaching Center. The project’s $45.3 million cost is being covered by a combination of existing state and federal funds as well as new economic stimulus money.
Built in 1971, the building urgently needed upgrades to meet city and state building codes and to accommodate growth. At roughly 250,000 square feet, the renovated building will house biology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics departments’ research and teaching labs, offices, and student commons. The scope includes seismic upgrade, building systems replacement, lab remodels, and a new hazardous waste facility.
This project is a good example of how IDC Architects is helping universities internationally find creative ways to stretch their capital improvement budgets. The project began with a detailed facility and needs assessment. That assessment quickly identified a “gap” between available financial resources and the goals of the multiple scientific departments seeking a level of quality for their new facility that could attract leading faculty and enhance research initiatives in environmental science, pharmaceuticals, and nanotechnology.
IDC Architects created a fundraising donor’s package, or “Banker’s Package” that included conceptual design planning coupled with an iconic architectural vision conveyed through virtual and physical models. The package was successful in helping generate private sector donations and legislative financing. The success of the Banker’s Package led to the university’s request that we proceed with the conceptual design.
This is a process that has become familiar to us as our university clients struggle to advance their growth goals in a tough economy. In recent years IDC Architects have analyzed, developed, and designed more than three million square feet of existing and new space for nearly 20 universities in the U.S. and Europe.