Wash U Starts Energy and Biomedical Engineering Building

Washington University in St. Louis (WUSL) recently broke ground on a 150,875-square-foot building for its School of Engineering & Applied Science.

Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton has announced that the new building will be named the Stephen F. &  Camilla T. Brauer Hall in honor of the donors. "Steve and Kimmy Brauer are two of St. Louis' and America's most distinguished citizens," Wrighton said. "They have been steadfast friends of Washington University for many years, and through their leadership, generosity and service, they have left an indelible imprint both on the University and the School of Engineering. We will be honored to have the Brauer name associated with the University and the school in such a prominent way. I think this is a most fitting way for the University to recognize all they have done."

When Brauer Hall is completed in 2010, it will serve as home for the School of Engineering's Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (EECE), provide space for the International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy & Sustainability (I-CARES) and provide expanded facilities for the University's highly successful Department of Biomedical Engineering.

"We recognized that to be successful in attracting leading, research-active faculty and superb students to the School of Engineering & Applied Science, people who can help us realize our vision to establish Washington University as a hub for environmental and energy research, education, innovation and action, we must have the physical facilities supportive of and commensurate with this ambition," said Salvatore P. Sutera, Ph.D., senior professor of biomedical engineering and interim dean of the School of Engineering & Applied Science.
Brauer Hall will connect on all levels with Uncas A. Whitaker Hall, home of the Department of Biomedical Engineering .  RMJM Hillier's design embraces the Collegiate Gothic style characteristic of the Danforth campus while incorporating the subtle variations in period and expression originally introduced by the 19th century campus designers Cope and Stewardson in association with the Olmstead Brothers.
 

"The vision for Brauer Hall reflects an understanding of the school's history and future," said Peter Schubert, RMJM Hillier's Design Director. "Our proposal seeks to bring to life an ongoing master plan based on Cope & Stewardson's historic campus designs. While the exterior facades will reflect the beloved and historically important traditional languages of the original campus vision, the interior will reflect the pressures and considerations of modern lab design."

Two thirds of the space in Brauer Hall will be dedicated to research laboratories designed to maximize flexibility across the wide range of aquatics, aerosols, synthetic chemistry and biomedical research activities that will be housed within the structure. A plug-and play casework system, which includes moveable base cabinets, removable tables, and ceiling-mounted service panels improves ability to accommodate a range of bench-top and floor-mounted equipment while reducing the cost of future renovations as research priorities change. In addition to instructional laboratories, classrooms and specialized teaching areas, several conference rooms, faculty offices and numerous student work spaces, Brauer Hall will house office suites for the Dean of the School of Engineering and for the EECE department and its chairman.

An innovative feature of the new facility will be a 85-seat distance-learning classroom available for use by all academic departments and schools. Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering Department Chair Professor Pratim Biswas said this classroom will be invaluable for communicating with EECE's research partners throughout the world, including the 25 member universities of Washington University's McDonnell Academy of Global Energy and Environment Partnership (MAGEEP).

"We are extremely  proud of our successful collaboration with Washington University to achieve a design that is a successful blend of historical context and the most advanced thinking in design for research, teaching and sustainability," said RMJM's Design Studio Director Steven K. Gifford. "Our team has been fascinated by the challenge and has enjoyed integrating the highest levels of contemporary design into this historic campus. In this building, the School of Engineering will be able create the future while still celebrating their rich past."

All of the University's recent construction projects have been built with environmental sustainability in mind, and this building also is being designed as a green structure according to LEED specifications for a gold rating. LEED, the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a nationally accepted rating system for the design, construction and operation of buildings that use its specifications for achieving environmental sustainability.

Some of the sustainable design features of Brauer Hallinclude:
Thermally efficient exterior envelope reduces heat gain and heat loss
High albedo roof to reduce the heat-island effect
Energy savings in excess of 30% through high efficiency air-handling systems that incorporate air-to-air recovery
Reduced water consumption by 30% through use of low-flow fixtures including waterless urinals
Storm water recycling for use in irrigation
At least 35% of all materials will be either recycled, regional, rapidly renewable or certified wood
Low-emitting materials for adhesives and interior floor and wall finishes
Recycling/salvaging at least 75% of non-hazardous construction waste

RMJM are the architects for the new building, combining  the firm's experience in historic preservation and plug-and-play labs to create a building designed to relate to the rich tradition of design on the WUSL Danforth Campus.The project is being constructed by Clayco Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri. Completion is ex

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