ENTRY FORM

DVASE 2014 Excellence in Structural Engineering

Awards Program

PROJECT CATEGORY (check one): Buildings under $2M Buildings Over $100M Buildings $2M-$10M Other Structures Under $5M Buildings $10M - $30M Other Structures Over $5M Buildings $30M - $100M Single Family Home Approximate construction cost of facility submitted:

Entry Fee:

FREE

Name of Project:

Location of Project:

Date construction was completed (M/Y):

Structural Design Firm:

Affiliation: All entries must be submitted by DVASE member firms or members.

Architect:

General Contractor:

Company Logo (insert .jpg in box below)

Important Notes:

• Please .pdf your completed entry form and email to bkoroncai@barrpino.com.

• Please also email separately 2-3 of the best .jpg images of your project, for the slide presentation at the May dinner and for the DVASE website. Include a brief (approx. 4 sentences) summary of the project for the DVASE Awards Presentation with this separate email.

$125,000,000

July 2013

Thornton Tomasetti

Ayers Saint Gross

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

University of Delaware, Interdisciplinary Science and EngineeringLaboratory

Newark, Delaware

• Provide a concise project description in the following box (one page maximum). Include the significant aspects of the project and their relationship to the judging criteria. Thornton Tomasetti provided structural design services for a LEED Silver facility combiningcutting-edge materials science laboratories with flexible classroom and instructional laboratoryspace. This state-of-the-art 194,000-square-foot facility defines the University of Delaware asa leading research institution and showcases innovative methods of science education.

The research wing combines high-end laboratory space with offices for product developmentincluding the complete cycle of research, development and marketing. Designed to anticipatefuture needs, it comprises a clean room suite and microscopy laboratories. Connected by athree-story link is an institutional wing with classrooms and laboratories that integratelectures and hands-on learning conducted in the same environment where scientists work.

Thornton Tomasetti worked closely with the design team to optimize structural systems for highvibration control in the research wing. Our recommendation to use concrete frames and slabs toprovide the best performance was supported by the architect and construction manager, who helpedexplain to the owner about the advantages of this system over lower cost options. Trust andcollaboration among project team members justified the extra cost to achieve optimal performancewithin the project budget.

Designing the building to control structure-borne vibrations was the most challenging aspect ofthe design. Vibrations induced by ambient conditions, pedestrian traffic and an adjacent chillerplant were limited to 125 micro inches per second (ANSI class E standard) as required for thestate-of-the-art transmission electron microscopes. Our design combined finite element analysisand hand calculations to ensure the vibration requirements were met with the lowest coststructure. Options considered to achieve an optimal design included column and wall placement,variation of slab thickness, use of isolation joints, intelligent location of vibration-sensitivespaces and proportioning steel reinforcing to improve cracked concrete stiffness.

The clean room and microscopy suites design criteria also included strict limitations for ambientelectromagnetic interference (EMI). The design employed a combination of epoxy-coated steel andglass-fiber-reinforced polymer reinforcing bar in the slabs and walls to limit the amount of EMItransmitted through the structure.

The research area includes a monumental stair comprising a single curved stringer. The stringeris eccentric to the centerline of the stair with cantilevered treads. Deflections were limited toensure occupant comfort and to accommodate glass railings on either side. The structural designis both aesthetically pleasing and functional, employing an exposed steel fabricated box shapedbeam profile and tee-shaped steel treads clad in wood. LED lights are powered by a cable runthrough the tube steel to illuminate each tread.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) was used in an innovative manner on this project. Wedelivered a highly detailed and coordinated Revit model for the construction team's use. Usingour extensive experience with 3D modeling, we were able to provide a coordinated digital documentto improve the construction schedule and reduce cost. Openings in slabs and walls werecoordinated and modeled, including pipes as small as two inches in diameter. The use of Revit andNavisworks (for clash detection) in this manner improved communication between the structural andmechanical teams. Putting the focus on coordination was a critical issue for limitingconstruction costs in a complex laboratory building.

The concrete subcontractor had access to and used the structural Revit model to layout the edgeof a slab using a total station device. Concrete curbs and slab steps were easily verified byboth the general contractor and the architect on site using the structural Revit model and mobiledigital devices. Isometric views of difficult construction details were provided to thecontractor to help accurately price and schedule the work.

The team's willingness to dedicate long hours to coordination and analysis of the various designpermutations contributed to the overall team spirit and attitude of cooperation. The projectbecame something of an experiment between the architectural, mechanical and structuralconsultants to see how far we could take BIM to improve service to our client and to improve thequality and efficiency of construction and design. The same attitude served us well duringconstruction when we were able to work amicably with the contractor and subcontractor to ensurea successful project.

© Brad Feinknopf

© Brad Feinknopf

By signing, signatory agrees to the following and represents that he or she is authorized to sign for the structural design firm of record:

All entries become the property of DVASE and will not be returned. By entering, the entrant grants a royalty-free license to DVASE to use any copyrighted material submitted.

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Submitting Firm:

Mailing address:

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Email:

David O'Connell 04/18/14

Thornton Tomasetti

1700 Market St., Suite 1750Philadelphia, PA 19103

267-238-4000 267-238-4001 doconnell@thorntontomasetti.com