University of Texas
Biomedical Engineering Building
University of Texas at Austin
CLIENT:
University of Texas
LOCATION
Austin, Texas
PROJECT VALUE:
$45 million
PROJECT DURATION:
March 2005 – August 2008
PARSONS SERVICES:
Architectural Design,
Programming
Scientific artwork in the lobby
designed by Larry Kirkland
The University of Texas System consists of nine academic universities and six health institutions. UT’s
Department of Biomedical Engineering is a joint department operating at UT Austin, M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center, and UT Health Science Center Houston. This partnership fosters education in the
fundamentals of engineering and science as they relate to medicine, as well as multidisciplinary,
disease-oriented research at the molecular and cellular level.
To accommodate the growing program, UT Austin selected Parsons to provide architectural design
and programming services for a new $45 million Biomedical Engineering Building. When completed, it
will be the first facility on the UT Austin campus with LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) certification. Located on the original 40 acres of the now 350-acre UT Austin campus, the
new building will help define the northern gateway to the campus.
In designing the Biomedical Engineering Building, Parsons created tiered standards that blend
the campus’ desire of architectural permanence with a commercially viable and inherently flexible
building interior.
We introduced the term 100.5 to reflect the permanence of a 100-year life expectancy of the exterior
with a 5-year use of the interior research spaces. Because interior spaces are research-driven, they
had to be agile—our design incorporates modular, easily reconfigured components. Our 100.5 concept
considers initial costs, durability, maintainability, life-cycle costs, suitability, and permanence of use
for the intended application.
JUNE 2008
Project of the Month
Parsons is designing Phase II, an expansion of the Biomedical
Engineering Building, to extend it along University Way (image by Vaughn
Construction).
Decorative building soffits are a defining characteristic of buildings at the
University of Texas. The soffit pattern for the Biomedical Engineering
Building references the human genome and the colors reference the Texas
landscape.
The new building’s design reflects the permanence and values of
the original 40-acre campus, incorporating such materials as cut
stone, brick, metal, glass, granite, and a clay tile roof. The design
also considers the relationship of the building with the adjacent
Neural Molecular Science Building and includes a 2-level bridge
on the 4th and 5th floors to connect the buildings—extending what
is becoming the science and technology complex on campus.
Sustainable features of the Biomedical Engineering Building
include:
Parsons met every design deadline of the fast-track schedule,
resulting in a 1-month schedule improvement for construction.
• Rainwater collection system
• Construction waste management
• Use of products with recycled content
• Occupancy sensors
• Carbon dioxide monitoring
• Low VOC (volatile organic compound) products
• Greenguard-certified furniture
In compliance with the university’s desire to increase awareness of
sustainability in the built environment, Parsons’ design incorporates
features to achieve Silver LEED certification when complete. The
LEED Green Building Rating System™ is a third-party certification
program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design,
construction, and operation of high-performance, environmentally
responsible buildings. LEED guidelines encompass site planning,
water management, energy, material use, and indoor environmental
quality.
When it opens in August 2008, this 142,000-ft 2, six-story building
will also provide space for the College of Pharmacy (Medicinal
Chemistry) and the wet biology teaching labs for the College of
Natural Sciences. This multiuse building includes labs, administrative
and faculty offices, teaching areas, student space, and computer
laboratories.
Parsons has five other projects under way at UT Austin:
• Biomedical Engineering Building – Phase II
• UT Administration Building
• Hogg Memorial Auditorium
• School of Social Work Utopia Theater
• Battle Hall (the only academic building on campus listed in
the National Register of Historic Places)
As UT Austin serves the growing needs of new generations, Parsons
supports the university’s efforts to preserve its special character
as it expands and maintains the campus.
Rainwater is collected for irrigation (image by HMG & Associates).
Project Team
• Project Director
Dan Alexander AIA
• Project Architect
Robert Gillogly AIA
• Project Manager
Lindsay Hunter AIA
• Senior Project Architect
Rober McLaughlin AIA
• Project Definition
Paul Brown AIA
• Interior Design
Janet Zeitler AIA
• Senior Project Designer
Sarah Swearer AIA
• Project Team
Jen Kaplan AIA
Cale Montgomery AIA
www.parsons.com