Proj Overview

Project Overview

The Lorry I. Lokey stem-cell research building reflects the administration’s goal of creating a modern medical-research environment. Flexibility, cost effectiveness, and collaboration were enhanced by the use of limestone-veneered architectural precast concrete and glass-fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC) wall panels to clad the building’s exterior.

The large atrium features precast concrete along its facade, fronted by a glazed curtain-wall system. The atrium promoted privacy for research labs while maximizing transparency and integration of indoor and outdoor community spaces. It also serves as a pedestrian thoroughfare, offering a highly trafficked face for the facility. Special attention was paid to minimizing panel joints to create continuity from exterior to interior faces.

Precast Solution

The building was designed to exceed requirements for LEED silver certification. This included sun shades on east, west, and south facades, which were attached to the precast concrete panels. The precast concrete components also helped achieve certification through their energy-efficient thermal mass, local manufacture, control of construction waste, and recyclability.

This project showed the interesting way that precast concrete can relate with other materials. The designers used precast as the general structural material and repeated that over and over, and then juxtaposed that against metal panels. The proportioning, detailing, and overall articulation was universally appreciated by the jury.

 

Awards 
2012 PCI Design AwardsBest High Tech/Laboratory Building
Project Team

Architect

ZGF Architects LLP, Portland, OR 

Engineer

Rutherford and Chekene, San Francisco, CA 

General Contractor

Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Pleasanton, CA 

Owner

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford University 

Precaster

Walters and Wolf Precast, Fremont, CA

Key Project Attributes

  • Precast concrete panel system dramatically improved the construction schedule and reduced construction costs
  • The precast concrete components helped achieve certification through their energy-efficient thermal mass, local manufacture, control of construction waste, and recyclability.
  • The versatility of precast allowed it to be the general structural material and then juxtaposed that against metal panels to create a cohesive design.

Project/Precast Scope

  • Project size: 204,640 ft2 (19,000 m2)
  • Project cost: $133.8 million
  • Project was enhanced by the use of limestone-veneered architectural precast concrete and glass-fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC) wall panels