UBC Life Sciences Centre (Base Building)

ACAi Role
Sub-consultant coordinating Architectural Contract Administration

Location
UBC Life Sciences Centre

Client
Bunting Coady Architects

Design Team
Diamond Schmitt Inc. in JV with Bunting Coady – Architect/Prime consultant
RJC Engineering – Structural
MCW Engineering – Mechanical/Electrical

Contractor
Ledcor Construction

The largest construction project on campus, the UBC Life Sciences Centre was built in 32 months through fast tracking and construction management. The significant range in teaching and lab uses within the new facility was a result of housing both the medical school and a host of interdisciplinary medical research groups. The building achieved LEED Gold and did so under very stringent budget parameters. The contract administration coordination role taken up by ACAi formed an important part of the consultant team in the delivery of the multi-phased project and included coordinating the customizing of the generic lab areas once user assignment of areas by UBC was finalized towards the completion of base building construction. The 8 phases of completion allowed occupancy for the various users at the critical milestone dates. A key role in this type of research oriented fast track science based project is equipment coordination. Ongoing dialogue throughout the completion of construction with a multitude of equipment vendors based locally and internationally was critical to achieving the schedule and meeting the rough-in requirements of the equipment prior to the delivery and commencement of the various installations. With the final phase of completion in 2008, the UBC Life Sciences Centre became a vital part of the provinces commitment to increase the number of medical student graduates in the province. In addition, the combination the numerous interdisciplinary research groups, including one of the largest level 3 Labs in North America, has brought together researchers from the faculty of Medicine, Science, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Applied Science, and Arts to create a collaborative environment for leading edge medical and biological research.