Michigan State University

College of Human Medicine, Biomedical Research Center

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Size
160,000 gsf

Services
Laboratory and vivarium planning
Architecture

Roles
Ellenzweig
Design Architect and Lab/Vivarium Planner

SmithGroup
Architect of Record

Certifications
LEED Silver

The biomedical research center realizes MSU’s vision to link education, science, research, and technology with the area’s health system and clinicians. Located in the Grand Rapids Medical Mile, an area defined by a rapidly expanding life sciences industry, the building provides research space for 36 Principal Investigators in the disciplines of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, and Pediatrics and Human Development. The design provides for future expansion to accommodate 12 additional PIs and their research groups.

The program for the building includes wet and dry bench laboratories and lab support space; researcher write-up space; a 15,000 square foot vivarium with animal holding and procedure rooms, surgery, imaging and behavioral suites, and support spaces; offices for research administration; and shared meeting, conference, break-out, and collaborative spaces. The ground floor provides administrative and building support space along with a large meeting space to accommodate research symposiums, poster sessions, thesis defense presentations, and community outreach. A centralized core laboratory suite on the first floor serves the research population in the building as well as neighboring research institutions including the Van Andel Research Institute and Spectrum Health.

The building is organized as two carefully zoned building blocks: a research laboratory block with the animal facility on level six, and a parallel office block with offices for the Principal Investigators and support staff. A sky-lit atrium common space with horizontal and vertical connections joins the two blocks, providing natural light to the researcher write-up areas and the open-office administrative spaces. The horizontal connections have ample width to accommodate soft seating and discussion areas that foster discourse and interaction.

The projected energy use intensity (pEUI) for the building is 76.5 kBtu/sf/yr, and is projected to be 72% carbon neutral compared to similar building types.

The project had ambitious time and budgetary goals and the team responded with both creativity and vigilance… Through the work of collaborative professionals, the facility exceeds expectations. Its location marks Michigan State University as the “gateway” to the Medical Mile and positions it to drive the university’s commitment for life-science innovation and expansion with future partners.

Elizabeth M. Lawrence
Former Senior Associate Dean, Strategy and Finance

Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine