Intermountain Contractor’s Top Projects of 2009 in Utah and Idaho

13 The James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building – USTAR $130 M

Owner: State of Utah DFCM; University of Utah
GC: Layton Construction
Architect: Lord, Aeck & Sargent
Associate Architect: Prescott Muir Architects
Civil: Van Boerum Frank Assoc.
Electrical: Ken Garner Engineering
Mechanical: Van Boerum Frank Assoc.
Structural: Reaveley Engineers+Assoc.

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The James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building is a roughly 200,000-sq-ft facility that broke ground April 22, 2009 and will house a series of research teams to be recruited by the University of Utah through the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR). This effort builds on existing strengths within the University including Pharmaceuticals, Genetic Discovery Techniques, Biomedical Technologies, Nanotechnology, Scientific Visualization and Graphics, Biological Sciences, and Advanced Cancer Research.

The facility will support 25 senior faculty researchers along with junior faculty, and will contain laboratory space, core facilities, faculty office space, symposium and conference space and public areas designed to encourage maximum interaction of faculty from diverse disciplines within the scientific community. Assignable research and support space will be designed for maximum flexibility and adaptability to accommodate future occupants. Core facilities will support faculty within the building and serve in some instances as University-wide resources.

The building has been designed and will be constructed with the goal of achieving a LEED Gold certification. The facility will set a high standard for sustainable design – the building will be energy efficient and reduce both energy use and energy costs from current laboratory code requirements by a minimum of 40%. Daylighting, including the use of sunshades, is a key design aspect, with natural light reaching at least 75% of the building’s occupied spaces. The project will conclude in October 2011.

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