The new 150,000-sf, six-story, cast-in-place concrete structure earned its place as Drexel’s first LEED certified building and serves the expanding biology, chemistry, and biomedical engineering departments.
The new Integrated Sciences Building, named for late president Constantine Papadakis, represents Drexel’s commitment to an efficient and ecologically sound campus, and to environmental education and initiatives. The building features a “Bio Wall” – a vegetated wall that uses plants’ natural respiratory properties to cool indoor air in summer, humidify air in winter, and naturally filter carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The building is the first at an American university to include a Bio Wall.
In plan, the building is comprised of three wings surrounding a full-height triangular atrium. The wings are connected at each level with discrete pedestrian links. As these links help distribute the lateral forces among the wings, a very detail lateral analysis was necessary. Additional components of the building include instructional science laboratories, faculty offices, conference rooms, classrooms, a lecture hall, and a career center. The building earned LEED Gold certification as well as Green Globes certification. The $69 million project was completed in 2011.
Keast & Hood was the structural engineer of record, along with associated structural engineer Halcrow Yolles of Toronto.
The new 150,000-sf, six-story, cast-in-place concrete structure earned its place as Drexel’s first LEED certified building and serves the expanding biology, chemistry, and biomedical engineering departments.
The new Integrated Sciences Building, named for late president Constantine Papadakis, represents Drexel’s commitment to an efficient and ecologically sound campus, and to environmental education and initiatives. The building features a “Bio Wall” – a vegetated wall that uses plants’ natural respiratory properties to cool indoor air in summer, humidify air in winter, and naturally filter carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The building is the first at an American university to include a Bio Wall.
In plan, the building is comprised of three wings surrounding a full-height triangular atrium. The wings are connected at each level with discrete pedestrian links. As these links help distribute the lateral forces among the wings, a very detail lateral analysis was necessary. Additional components of the building include instructional science laboratories, faculty offices, conference rooms, classrooms, a lecture hall, and a career center. The building earned LEED Gold certification as well as Green Globes certification. The $69 million project was completed in 2011.
Keast & Hood was the structural engineer of record, along with associated structural engineer Halcrow Yolles of Toronto.
CLIENT: Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated
LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA
TYPE: Academic, Laboratory, SERVICES: New Construction, Seismic, MATERIALS: Concrete, Steel, SUSTAINABILITY: Green Globes, LEED, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Completed project photography © Barry Halkin, Halkin | Mason Photography
