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Conference features USM Biosciences Institute
Cambridge, MA – March 1, 2007 – The University of Southern Maine’s Biosciences Institute will be the subject of a Special Session at Tradeline Research Buildings 2007 in San Diego, which takes place May 7-8. The presentation will feature USM’s Director of Facilities Management, David Barbour, and architects Edward R. Frenette, AIA, and Robert C. Hicks, AIA. This team will discuss an unusual plan for vertical expansion necessitated by the project’s intermittent funding and restricted site.
The State of Maine initially provided USM with $2.8m in seed money to help boost the state’s research and development market. “It was a unique situation,” says Barbour. “Funding was insufficient to complete the overall project vision, so we had to break the project down into several phases starting with renovation.” The full project then followed through three phases.
The team’s Tradeline presentation will explain how the design team allowed for these multiple construction phases on a tight building site. Vertical phasing was the only solution to ensure that the 60,000 sf research laboratory made the best use of funds as they became available, and also allowed for continuously functional labs.
USM’s Biosciences Institute houses the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology and the Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health. Researchers study the effects of metals and other particulars on people and marine animals. A vivarium, customized labs, generic labs, and support space facilitate the work of the principal investigator and a team of 12 -15. The facility has attracted researchers to Maine’s program and retained them by maintaining functional labs during building expansion.
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