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Animal Health Research Center

CUH2A Smith Carter was part of the design build team commissioned for the reconstruction and redevelopment of this two-storey BSL3 Ag large animal research facility. The concrete and masonry structure was completed in 1995 but was never commissioned for operation because of construction and operational difficulties.

One of a handful of BSL3 agricultural research facilities located on a university campus, the Animal Health Research Center enables scientists to study a wide variety of infectious diseases that affect people and animals. Smith Carter was part of a design build team in 2003 responsible for the redesign and renovation of an existing laboratory facility that was constructed by others and failed to meet commissioning and certification requirements to allow operations to begin.

Alternative containment techniques had to be developed in order to work with less than ideal existing conditions and conform to applicable codes and guidelines. The technical solutions developed incorporated innovative steel shell containment construction and new membrane coating technologies, in lieu of structural concrete typically used as a containment barrier system. Extensive testing and validation was performed on new technologies in order to ensure final installed performance. Full room-scale mock-ups of barrier systems, including all typical penetrations and openings were designed, built, tested rigorously, and used as final acceptance criteria before facility-wide execution of the new technologies was approved, commissioned and delivered.

The project incorporates upgrades to the existing facility including planning layouts, as well as the architectural, mechanical and electrical systems to be consistent with a world-class BSL3 Agriculture facility. The final facility program included single and double animal rooms and necropsy areas at USDA BSL3Ag classification, small animal rooms at CDC BSL3 classification, research laboratories at USDA BSL3, CDC BSL3 and BSL2 classifications, and support spaces. Veterinary and pathology areas were redesigned and equipment replaced, including large animal gating systems, necropsy equipment and the installation of a through-floor, 8000 lb WR2 tissue digester system.