Bioscience 2

The owner’s primary concerns of budget and schedule were amplified by their apprehension of the design-build process. However, the very nature of the envisioned project mandated an integrated project delivery model that only design-build could provide. The collaboration among the team from the onset settled the fears of the unknown and teamwork soon took the forefront.

The Bioscience 2 project, a 112,000-square-foot, four-story medical research laboratory and academic facility, was delivered under a design-build contract by Saunders Construction and MOA Architecture (Saunders | MOA) for the University of Colorado Denver.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the bioscience industry is cited as one of the fast growing in terms of job growth. As proof of the growing demand within this industry, Bioscience 2 was 70% pre-leased prior to project completion, and is now 100% occupied.

Developed as a partnership between the University of Colorado Denver and the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority (FRA), the Bioscience 2 building offers an unrivaled range of opportunity for bioscience students, as well as research and development companies of all sizes, from small start-ups to established industry leaders. The building, located within the Fitzsimons Life Science District on the Anschutz Medical Campus, houses the University of Colorado Department of Bioengineering and multiple private biotechnology companies, including ClinImmune Labs, Precision Biopsy, and iC42 Clinical Research and Development. The goal of this state-of-the-art facility was to provide educational and private laboratories, which encourage alliance and knowledge transfer across the bioscience and biotechnology academic and corporate communities.

The evolution of laboratory space and infrastructure is ever changing. Saunders | MOA was able to deliver on the owner’s vision by providing 21st-century laboratory spaces, while allowing for future flexibility and change. Building electrical and mechanical systems were designed to accommodate today’s need with ample capacity for the uncertainties of tomorrow. Pathways for infrastructure were carefully coordinated in anticipation of the unforeseen future. The project included full design and build-out of the interiors with a variety of program spaces including classrooms, study rooms, teaching laboratories, wet and dry laboratories, clean rooms, office space, conference rooms, IT support, cryogenic freezer areas, acid storage, and support areas.

This project received multiple industry awards, including:

• 2015 Award for Industrial, Process and Research Facilities from Design-Build Insitute of America (DBIA) Rocky Mountain Region (RMR)
• LEED Gold Certification, 2015