The project had been shelved for several years. Baylor's challenge was to have the existing program and conceptual documents reviewed and evaluated to see if there was a better way to execute the project within the same budget.
Fluor conducted the review, updated the study, and performed value engineering that led to redesign of the building layout.
The state-of-the-art $100 million research and development facility addressed Baylor's need for increased research space and accommodation of technologies critical to biomedical research. The building, containing 125,000 square feet for laboratory research and 45,000 square feet for a vivarium, was constructed atop an existing facility.
In addition, there was a 23,000 square-foot main mechanical floor and a 10,000 square-foot cage processing area. The building interior enhanced flexibility and collaboration in research for new interdisciplinary programs including cardiovascular sciences, diabetes and metabolic disease, cancer, pharmacogenomics (response of individuals to therapeutic drugs), imaging, informatics, and proteomics (a branch of molecular biology).
In addition, a uniform identity was needed for the medical school campus. The needs and functions of research facilities, support facilities, and the utility infrastructure had to be identified. Results of the review were used to update Baylor's standards for the use of its buildings.