The building is a state-of-the-art research facility designed to promote interdisciplinary collaboration. It was designed utilizing a “dance floor” configuration, which means that many work areas are not separated by walls; this provides researchers from a variety of disciplines greater opportunity for interaction and facilitates their access to highly specialized equipment. These labs also contain movable lab benches and casework, as well as overhead lines for utilities and computer access, providing flexibility in usage of the space.
The building has also obtained a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating, which indicates that a building meets environmentally responsible and sustainable design, construction, and operation standards.
- Construction materials for the building include recycled glass, steel, concrete, and wood. More than 60 percent of the leftover construction waste was recycled for future use instead of being sent to a landfill.
- A roof membrane, which reflects 92 percent of the solar energy striking the roof surface, reduces the amount of energy needed to cool the building. In addition, high performance glazing reduces solar heat gain from the exterior, insulates the building from heat loss on the interior, and allows adequate levels of light to penetrate the building.
- Incoming air is pre-cooled through evaporation, reducing air-conditioning needs. Occupancy and ambient sensor controls are used to automatically turn off lights in unoccupied rooms, reducing electric light usage during the day.
- The building is also designed to reduce water consumption by 42 percent through use of drought-tolerant native landscaping and a drip irrigation system, along with low-flow sinks, toilets, and showers. Additionally, the building utilizes a reclaimed water system that captures the wastewater from the building’s de-ionized water and humidification systems inside the laboratories; this produces 750 gallons of wastewater daily, which is used for flushing toilets.