PROJECT Universities at Shady Grove Biomedical Sciences & Engineering Building

ARCHITECT Cooper Carry, Inc. and Lake|Flato

LOCATION  Rockville, Maryland US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  11/7/2019

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Cooper Carry: Brent Amos, AIA; Mark Jensen, AIA; Rick Fredlund, AIA; Oscar Perez, AIA; Lake|Flato: David Lake, AIA; Ryan Jones, AIA; Ashley Heeren, AIA; Patrick Burnham, AIA; Sarah Dede; Heather Gayle Holdridge, EIT, Assoc. AIA; Katie Cavazos, AIA
OWNER/CLIENT Universities at Shady Grove
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Gilbane Building Company - Ted Trester, Project Executive
PHOTOGRAPHER  Brad Feinknopf

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Mahan Rykiel Associates - James Sink
CIVIL ENGINEER Site Resources, Inc. - Jennifer Harrington, PE
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Cagley & Associates - Jimmy Lakey, PE
MECHANICAL ENGINEER Affiliated Engineers Inc. - Scott Spangenberger, PE
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Affiliated Engineers Inc. - Scott Spangenberger, PE
CONSULTANT Lab Planning: Research Facilities Design -Sean Towne, Lab Planner, st@rfd.com
CONSULTANT AV/IT/Security Consultant: Convergent Technologies Design Group - Brian Whitlock, AV/IT/Security, bwhitlock@ctdginc.com
CONSULTANT Geotechnical Engineer: Schnabel Engineering - Bill Khouri, PE, Geotech Engr., bkhouri@schnabel-enr.com
CONSULTANT Code/Fire Protection/Site Electrical Engineer: WFT Engineering - Ted Kelley, PE, Fire Protection Engr., tedk@wft.com
CONSULTANT Elevator Consultant: Atlantic Consulting - Richard Schaefer, Elevator Consult., richard@atlanticelevatorconsulting.com
CONSULTANT Signage Consultant: Mimar Architects - Greg Ninow, signage consultant, gninow@mimarch.com
CONSULTANT Waterproofing Consultant: CurtainWall Design Consulting - Rich Stephenson, Curtainwall Consult., jrstephenson@cdc-usa.com
CONSULTANT Water Use/Wetlands Consultant: Biohabitats -Ted Brown, Water Consultant, tbrown@biohabitats.com
CONSULTANT Materials Consultant: Building Green: Nadav Malin, materials consultant, nadav@buildinggreen.com
CONSULTANT Wind Engineer/Air Quality Consultant: CPP Energy Modeling: Transsolar - Eric Olsen, wind consultant, olsen@transolar.com

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  

PROGRAM
The new Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Sciences building (BSE) embodies the story of the Universities at Shady Grove (USG). This six-level, 220,000-square-foot facility enhances the collaboration of nine sister institutions at USG to offer advanced degree programs in cutting-edge technology and medical science fields, as well as to share instructional facilities across disciplines.

SITE
The BSE is located at the headwaters of the Piney Branch Watershed, a sub-watershed of the Watts Branch, which is a tributary of the Potomac River. The project is dedicated to creating a strong connection to the local site ecology by minimizing impact on the adjacent wetland.

SOLUTION
The BSE integrates site ecology with user-centric, biological design, prioritizing environmental connectivity and energy efficiency, as well as user health and productivity. The result is a building that nurtures pedagogy both in the learning spaces and in the experiential design.

The interior spaces of the BSE incorporate design strategies that reference the natural world. Green-colored glass, reclaimed wood siding, and living green walls mimic biological environments. The patterning near the vertical circulation of the building alludes to the vertical circulation of water and of nutrients through trees. Colors and patterns on the walls and carpets were chosen to add visual interest and evoke a comforting sense of natural order.

The new architectural vocabulary and character established by BSE helps define and strengthen the identity of the Shady Grove campus, creating a magnet of activity that is highly transparent and connected at multiple levels to community and environment.

Establishing a highly accessible public space, while maintaining a “student-owned” experience, the BSE is an outer expression of the role of USG in the community, effectively addressing both the needs of employers and the educational needs of students.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

[KY=Kim Yao (Chair)  KD=Kimberly Dowdell  TY=Takashi Yanai]

KY: This project's submission was distinguished by a clear framing relative to its sustainability and design excellence objectives. The project is nicely executed with spaces that will be very well used. There's a coherence to the overall composition of parts at the building exterior.

KD: This is a very strong submission for an accomplished building that demonstrates a thoughtful approach to campus design and sustainability.

TY: The building responds well to its campus context while differentiating itself at the same time. It's very skillfully done.

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project/Jury PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)

1. Building Exterior © 2020 Feinknopf Photography / Brad Feinknopf
2. Building Exterior © 2020 Feinknopf Photography / Brad Feinknopf
3. Atrium © 2020 Feinknopf Photography / Brad Feinknopf

4. Seating Area © 2020 Feinknopf Photography / Brad Feinknopf
5. Aerial © 2020 Feinknopf Photography / Brad Feinknopf
6. Natural Materials © 2020 Feinknopf Photography / Brad Feinknopf
7. Engineering Classroom © 2020 Feinknopf Photography / Brad Feinknopf
8. Atrium © 2020 Feinknopf Photography / Brad Feinknopf