Showcase Projects
Center for Science & Technology
San Diego, CA

The largest, most anticipated, and by far the most complex academic building on the University of San Diego campus has been under construction since May, with University crews on-site since July. When it opens in spring 2003, the Center for Science and Technology will be instrumental in supporting USD's role as a valuable resource for San Diego's scientific, medical, and biotechnology communities.

The 150,000-square-foot center will house 70 world-class laboratories for electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, lasers, and chemistry computer modeling. It also will house aquariums, an astronomy deck, and a greenhouse - just to mention a few of its incredible array of features.

The project's complexities are greatly amplified by the demanding engineering required to build the state-of-the-art structure. "By its very nature, a science building is fraught with mechanical and electrical issues," reported Tom Coffin, project planner, in a recent issue of USD Magazine. "Because of its power and air circulation requirements, there is no building on campus that compares to it."

University crews are grappling with numerous challenges. Each lab station will have its own electrical, gas, and water lines. Our lab plumbing work includes installation of a DI plant with polypro piping system, lab air compressor with cleaned copper piping system, lab vacuum, and natural gas serving 130 lab benches. The HVAC work is equally ambitious, including eight custom air handlers that will deliver approximately 330,000 cfm, associated exhaust fans, ductwork, and air distribution.

Oh! And we should mention that the entire, 4-story building must be absolutely vibration-free in order not to interfere with the performance of delicate scientific experiments or the operation of the electron microscope that will be housed there.

The USD Center for Science and Technology Team:
Architect: Carrier Johnson
Mechanical engineer: G.E.M. Engineering
General contractor: Rudolph and Sletten
University project manager: John Albiso
Plumbing general foreman: Jim Taylor
Piping foreman: Scott Phillips
HVAC general foreman: Keith Sweepe
Project coordinator: Kim Serrano

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