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Building Design and Features

   

The research institute will include three floors, two of which will be ready for occupation in August 2010. The third floor will be shelled and completed at a later date.

The building is uniquely designed to maximize research efficiency, encourage collaboration, and provide a comfortable, productive, and safe working environment. Faculty and administrative offices, as well as extensive space for computational facilities and visiting scientists, are located on a perimeter that is publically accessible and in close proximity to the school of medicine.

Research space assignable to individual investigators is also located on the building perimeter and is organized into large open “research neighborhoods” that include modular research units. Each module consists of approximately 800 square feet, including bench and desk space sufficient to accommodate approximately six researchers. Researcher desk space, within research modules, is adjacent to large windows that overlook the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Roanoke River.

There are also two special-purpose alcoves that can accommodate a wide variety of equipment according to the needs of individual investigators.

The open, modular laboratory design provides flexibility and will accommodate space assignments based on the changing needs and resources of individual investigators. Most of the research neighborhoods are designed as typical molecular/cellular biology laboratories, although several neighborhoods will accommodate the needs of synthetic chemists, as well.

Access to the laboratories is available via a spacious linear equipment room that also provides space for typical general user laboratory equipment items that generate noise and heat, such as refrigerators, freezers, and centrifuges. This design is intended to provide a quiet and comfortable working space for researchers located within the laboratory neighborhoods, while maintaining easy and proximal access to general laboratory support equipment.

The interior core of each floor contains general user facilities, such as glassware washing and cold rooms, as well as generous space for the development of procedure rooms and core facilities.

State-of-the-art facilities for animal research are available on the Virginia Tech campus and plans are under development to provide vivarium facilities in close proximity to VTC.