Download Penn State Erie, The Behrend College -- Case Study

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College -Case Study
The Behrend College is located on a
beautiful 700-acre campus in Erie,
Pennsylvania. Burt Hill was engaged by
the College to design a Laboratory
Complex to consolidate the School of
Engineering and Engineering Technology
into one building. In general terms, the
building houses labs for instruction and
research with a modest amount of seminar
and office space. The laboratory space is
of two types: heavier shop floor labs such
as those devoted to plastics instruction and
research, and clean and quiet functions
such as those associated with electrical
teaching and research labs. The complex
also houses the School of Engineering and
the Plastics Technical Center, along with
faculty offices.
West Campus Site Plan
The Burt Hill team worked on-site to define the program requirements and to test
master plan options for the layout and siting of the new facility. By working
interactively with administration and faculty, the team was able to develop clear
consensus on the goals for the project and to develop number of options, which
were analyzed in the final
review session. The
outcome of this worksession was a building
master plan, which
addressed all of the goals
established by the College.
The main building form
acknowledges a funding
process that can recognize
four major contributors.
©Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates, 2008
High BayPlastics Research Area
1
Floor plan of the lcomplex showing the connectivity between the
four laboratory components and the Existing Campus Buildings.
While there are not four disjointed buildings, the complex is easily recognizable
as four separate masses from both the exterior and from the mall-like Winter Hall.
Providing a shirt sleeve environment, that is, allowing ease of movement between
buildings protected from the harsh winter weather, was also a main objective. The
building connects directly with the existing Nick and Hammermill-Zurn
Buildings, effectively creating a contiguous complex.
The new laboratory complex was designed
to harmonize with the existing HammermillZurn Building on the right.
These two goals dictated a strong, easily comprehensible circulation system,
which provides the connection between the buildings four parts and the existing
buildings. This is accomplished through the two-story Winter Hall, which is
reminiscent of the Hammermill-Zurn atrium. It provides break and display spaces
for the Complex. It also acts as a gallery allowing views into several of the labs
showcasing the high-tech manufacturing environment.
Another goal of the Complex was to
develop an arrival scenario as a front door
to the west campus. The design recognizes
the large parking areas to the west and
north of the Complex and provides three
entrances to accommodate arriving
students and visitors. The main entrance,
facing north, is most obvious and is readily
identifiable by visitors in approaching
vehicles. The secondary entrances, facing
west, are designed similarly, but in smaller
scale to the main entrance. All entrances
are easily recognizable as their delicate
glass curtainwall and metal framework
expression is in stark contrast to the brick
masses which they separate.
Main Entrance to the Laboratory Complex
The exterior expression allows the new building to maintain the existing character
of the western campus, yet conveys the high-tech nature of the facility. The
overall result is a Complex which is simple and clearly organized, yet interesting
and attractive.
©Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates, 2008
2
The project budget was closely monitored from the start of the project. Burt Hill
identified the potential for cost over-runs early in the design phase and through an
intensive value engineering effort with the college, a number of critical decisions
on scope and quality were judiciously made to control the project cost.
The project delivery
process was the traditional
design-bid-build method.
The bids were received as
both multiple prime
contracts (general, HVAC,
plumbing and electrical)
and as a single prime
contract. The cost savings
with multiple primes was
minimal; therefore, the
work was awarded as a
single contract.
The low bid was within
.5% of Burt Hills estimate.
The Lab Complex totaled
54,500 square feet and was
constructed for
approximately $103 per
square foot.
©Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates, 2008
3
The two-story Winter Hall provides the connection between the
buildings for parts and the existing campus buildings.