PROJECT NIH NIAID T40 Bioinformatics Research Building
ARCHITECT Louviere, Stratton & Yokel, LLC (LSY)
LOCATION  Bethesda, Maryland US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  8/25/2021
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  M. Kevin Clark, Roger Watson, Tara Mazloomi
OWNER/CLIENT
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Amatea, LLC; Matthew Hilleary / Grimberg Construction Co.; Andy Whittaker
PHOTOGRAPHER  Alain Jaramillo
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
CIVIL ENGINEER Timmons Group / Bill Vest, Osvaldo Ramos
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) / Gary Strand
MECHANICAL ENGINEER CFR / Kevin Capodice
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER CFR / Steve Long
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, an institute of the National Institutes of Health, sought to expand their office and computational space to support bioinformatics programs of the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC). The VRC's mission is “to discover and develop novel vaccines and biologics targeting infectious diseases of global public health importance”. The project need was identified long before the COVID-19 pandemic began but became even greater as COVID began to affect people worldwide.
The facility is a 13,200 gsf modular building that provides office and workspace for roughly 70 staff, as well as support space including reception, meeting rooms, huddle rooms, pantries, wellness room, toilet rooms and building service spaces.
The project is located on NIH’s Bethesda campus, placing it in proximity to most other NIH institutes and centers conducting intramural research. NIH identified a site near the campus entrance at South Drive and Old Georgetown Road to remove an antiquated modular building and replace it with a newer, more functional facility with a greater reflection of campus aesthetics. This site is adjacent to several research facilities that offer connection for both circulation and design aesthetic. The project limited the extents of disturbance to the footprint of the previous building and created stormwater retention on site with a sustainably landscaped bioretention area.
The building is rectangular in shape, with dimensions of approximately 180’ x 75’. The modular building comprises fifteen (15) individual 12’ wide trailer modules that are 75’ in length. The modules are anchored by a 12 foot grid of helical foundation piers and concrete and masonry perimeter foundation walls. The building has a flat roof with tapered insulation for drainage to downspouts. The building has two access points: a main entrance leading to reception space, and a second point mainly for egress. Both entrances are covered by canopies and are handicapped accessible.
The building exterior features metal panels, large metal-framed punch windows, and split-face block. Two different metal panel designs are used: A corrugated panel with closely spaced horizontal reveals, and a smooth panel with horizontal and vertical reveals. The use of the different panels adds interest and highlights portions of the building’s façade as they protrude and recede. The context of this area of campus has set a strong precedent for the building's exterior design.
The color scheme for the building uses a palette of mainly neutral colors. The colors of the metal panels and masonry blend well together and with adjacent buildings. Fixed aluminum windows have been placed along the south, west and north elevations to allow natural light to enter. Enclosed interior spaces are mainly separated from the exterior wall by open office areas to allow light to penetrate as deeply as possible. Enclosed spaces benefit from doors containing lites, large sidelites, transoms and clerestories to allow borrowed light to extend inboard. Roof overhangs on the south side of the building provide protection from precipitation at entries and act as sun screens for windows that serve workspaces.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. Caption : NIH NIAID Bioinformatics Research Building - SE Exterior View / Photographer : Alain Jaramillo
2. Caption : NIH NIAID Bioinformatics Research Building - SE Exterior View / Photographer : Alain Jaramillo
3. Caption : NIH NIAID Bioinformatics Research Building - Office Corridor / Photographer : Alain Jaramillo
4. Caption : NIH NIAID Bioinformatics Research Building - SW Exterior View / Photographer : Alain Jaramillo
5. Caption : NIH NIAID Bioinformatics Research Building - Team Room / Photographer : Alain Jaramillo
6. Caption : NIH NIAID Bioinformatics Research Building - Conference Room / Photographer : Alain Jaramillo
7. Caption : NIH NIAID Bioinformatics Research Building - Office Design / Photographer : Alain Jaramillo
8. Caption : NIH NIAID Bioinformatics Research Building - Large Pantry / Photographer : Alain Jaramillo