Scientific artwork in the lobby designed by Larry Kirkland

The University of Texas System consists of nine academic universities and six health institutions. UT’s Department of Biomedical Engineering is a joint department operating at UT Austin, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and UT Health Science Center Houston. This partnership fosters education in the fundamentals of engineering and science as they relate to medicine, as well as multidisciplinary, disease-oriented research at the molecular and cellular level.

Decorative building soffits are a defining characteristic of buildings at the University of Texas. The soffit pattern for the Biomedical Engineering Building references the human genome and the colors reference the Texas landscape.

To accommodate the growing program, UT Austin selected Parsons to provide architectural design and programming services for a new $45 million Biomedical Engineering Building. When completed, it will be the first facility on the UT Austin campus with LEED certification. Located on the original 40 acres of the now 350‑acre UT Austin campus, the new building will help define the northern gateway to the campus.

In designing the Biomedical Engineering Building, Parsons created tiered standards that blend the campus’ desire of architectural permanence with a commercially viable and inherently flexible building interior.

We introduced the term 100.5 to reflect the permanence of a 100‑year life expectancy of the exterior with a 5‑year use of the interior research spaces. Because interior spaces are research-driven, they had to be agile—our design incorporates modular, easily reconfigured components. Our 100.5 concept considers initial costs, durability, maintainability, life-cycle costs, suitability, and permanence of use for the intended application.

A 2‑level enclosed bridge connects the Biomedical Engineering Building with the previously constructed Neural Molecular Science Building.

The new building’s design reflects the permanence and values of the original 40‑acre campus, incorporating such materials as cut stone, brick, metal, glass, granite, and a clay tile roof. The design also considers the relationship of the building with the adjacent Neural Molecular Science Building and includes a 2‑level bridge on the 4^th and 5^th floors to connect the buildings—extending what is becoming the science and technology complex on campus.

Parsons met every design deadline of the fast-track schedule, resulting in a 1‑month schedule improvement for construction.

In compliance with the university’s desire to increase awareness of sustainability in the built environment, Parsons’ design incorporates features to achieve Silver LEED^® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification when complete. The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance, environmentally responsible buildings. LEED guidelines encompass site planning, water management, energy, material use, and indoor environmental quality.

Sustainable features of the Biomedical Engineering Building include:

Rainwater is collected for irrigation (image by HMG & Associates).

• Rainwater collection system

• Construction waste management

• Use of products with recycled content

• Occupancy sensors

• Carbon dioxide monitoring

• Low VOC (volatile organic compound) products

• Greenguard-Certified furniture

When it opens in August 2008, this 142,000‑ft², six‑story building will also provide space for the College of Pharmacy (Medicinal Chemistry) and the wet biology teaching labs for the College of Natural Sciences. This multiuse building includes labs, administrative and faculty offices, teaching areas, student space, and computer laboratories.

Parsons has five other projects under way at UT Austin:

Parsons is designing Phase II, an expansion of the Biomedical Engineering Building, to extend it along University Way (image by Vaughn Construction).

• Biomedical Engineering Building – Phase II

• UT Administration Building

• Hogg Memorial Auditorium

• School of Social Work Utopia Theater

• Battle Hall (the only academic building on campus listed in the National Register of Historic Places)

As UT Austin serves the growing needs of new generations, Parsons supports the university’s efforts to preserve its special character as it expands and maintains the campus.

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