Broken Sidewalk » Nabes: Medical Center

Research Building A Green Model For The University of Louisville

Branden Klayko — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:00:08 +0000

Clinical & Translational Research Building (Photo courtesy UL)

While the Clinical & Translational Research Building has been open for about four months, the University of Louisville just announced that the high profile structure on Muhammad Ali Boulevard and Hancock Street has received LEED Gold certification for sustainable architecture.

The University originally hoped to secure LEED Silver for the 288,000 square foot, $143.1 million facility, but was bumped up up to the second highest level (behind Platinum) after achieving 41 LEED credits (of 39 required for Gold) ranging from use of natural light and ventilation, energy efficient lights, a reflective white roof, and on-site showers and bike racks.

The structure was designed by lead architects Arrasmith, Judd, Rapp, Chovan, Inc. of Louisville and design and lab consultants SmithGroup of Detroit. Architect Arne Judd, principal and LEED AP with Arrasmith, says the CTR is the first LEED certified research building in Kentucky and is the largest new construction Gold certified research building in the country. It’s one of only 33 LEED certified research buildings in the United States.

One of the most unique sustainable features of the building is its reuse of water condensate from air handling units. All of those drops of water created by air conditioning add up in a building this large and a system has been installed to capture the extra water and use it for irrigation of landscaping areas. (Check out some other sustainable credits in the building over here.)

News of the Gold certification level is certainly welcome and represents U of L’s stated commitment to green architecture. There are only two other Gold certified projects in Louisville (the CMTA Building and the GBBN Offices) and Judd says the CTR is the first LEED certified building at the University, but U of L is currently pursuing certification of additional new projects.

Nearby, the Dental School addition and renovation, the Biosafety Lab at ShelbuHurst, and the Duthie Center for Engineering are all seeking certification. The U of L web site also says a new parking garage adjacent to the CTR is also implementing green concepts although LEED does not apply to parking garages.

Expansion Underway at U of L’s School of Dentistry

Branden Klayko — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:44:25 +0000

Rendering of changes to UL School of Dentistry (Courtesy U of L)

Construction has begun on an addition to the University of Louisville‘s School of Dentistry in the Medical Center. After an official groundbreaking in October 2009, the dirt has really started to move on the $40 million projects that will provide much needed space and represents the first major upgrade to the School since the building was built in 1970.

Construction will add over 20,000 square feet of new space and renovate an additional 200,000 square feet. Technology improvements will be a key feature of the new facility with a move to digital radiography and high-tech classrooms.

Designed by Luckett & Farley of Louisville, the addition will seek LEED certification for sustainable architecture and will include a more efficient HVAC system and lighting controls that respond to the actual occupancy of the building. The addition will maintain the general lines of the 1970s era concrete structures but will include a more open and inviting glass main entrance.

Construction Underway at the UL School of Dentistry

Rendering of changes to UL School of Dentistry (Courtesy U of L)

Norton Hospital Reveals Radiation Center Design

Branden Klayko — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:56:01 +0000

Rendering of new radiation center (Courtesy Norton Hospital)

Norton Hospital revealed the construction plans and design of a new three-story radiation center to be built at the corner of East Broadway and Floyd Street estimated to cost $27.7 million and take a year and a half to build. Norton says the state-of-the-art facility will feature the most advanced technologies available anywhere in the world to treat adult and pediatric cancers and tumors.

The first floor of the 65,000 square foot structure houses the radiation center and a second floor offers specialized multidisciplinary offices. The third floor will remain shelled for future growth and the building has been designed to accept two additional floors to be built at a later time.

The structure has been designed by Karlsberger of Columbus, Ohio to follow principles of sustainable architecture and achieve LEED certification. Design will also follow evidence-based standards to improve health including using natural finish materials and colors to provide a soothing and calm environment inside and out. Interior radiation center design provided by Architection of Louisville.

Two gardens are also planned as part of the project. An interior Meditation Garden situated near the building’s entrance will incorporate moving water, stone, and wood while an exterior Healing Garden, funded by the family of trustee Bo Nixon, will feature native plants, a stone plaza with a labyrinth pattern, and a selection of artwork and sculpture.

Overall design of the facility is markedly improved from a one-story schematic design originally shown that would have also required the demolition of the historic Vogt-Lemon House next door. After community outcry, Norton Hospital has agreed not to demolish the building. Norton Hospital says it won’t be affected by current plans to build the radiation center and will be separated from the new structure by the outdoor Healing Garden.

Norton Hospital says the center will primarily serve Louisville and its surrounding counties in Kentucky and Southern Indiana and notes that the service area suffers from above average incidence of cancer and death rates. The center will reduce treatment times and expand pediatric treatment services. Besides treatment, cancer research and education will also be conducted at the new facility.

Ground was ceremoniously broken on Thursday and actual construction is expected to begin soon. The site has already been cleared of a 1960s era one-story structure that was demolished last year. Norton’s Radiation Center is estimated to open in July 0s 2010 at 676 Floyd Street.

Snapshot: Clinical & Translational Research Building Opens

Branden Klayko — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:37:56 +0000

Clinical & Translational Research Building

The University of Louisville’s latest addition to the Medical Center officially opened its doors to researchers in October, revealing a state-of-the-art research facility on the corner of Hancock Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard. Designed by Arrasmith, Judd, Rapp, Chovan, Inc. of Louisville and SmithGroup of Detroit, the new 6-story, 287,000 square foot Clinical & Translational Research Building is LEED registered and awaiting approval of official designation as a sustainable building.

A new 1,700 spot parking garage directly east of the new research building has been designed by JRA Architects of Louisville and reflects the architecture and mass of its neighbor. Retail space along Muhammad Ali Boulevard has been included in the garage, but we haven’t heard of any signed tenants yet.

The streetscape surrounding both the Clinical & Translational Research Building and the parking garage provides ample sidewalk space and a plaza on Hancock Street and Madison Street. Large planters in front of the garage combined with a setback retail frontage help to create one of the most engaging parking garage facades in the city. Here’s a statement from the University:

“The Center for Translational Research provides state-of-the-art biomedical research facilities to promote interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists and researchers. The building is the new home for many of the researchers connected to the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, as well as others in pharmacology and toxicology and other areas. The facility provides much-needed research space as UofL continues to grow its research program on the health sciences campus.”

Clinical & Translational Research Building Almost Done

Branden Klayko — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:11:00 +0000

Clinical & Translational Research Building

A new University of Louisville research building on the corner of Hancock Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard is welcoming its first tenants. Formally known as the Clinical & Translational Research Building (CTRB), the $143 million structure has been designed to achieve LEED Certification for sustainable architecture. According to the University of Louisville:

“One of the most innovative design features is the use of dual purpose window sun-shade/light shelves that will help reduce energy costs and improve the comfort and quality of the interior environment. This unique treatment of the exterior facades both shades windows from sun exposure to reduce heat gain and reflects natural daylight into offices and labs to minimize the use of artificial lighting.”

All new buildings at the University of Louisville are being design to meet LEED standards. The building will officially open later this summer, probably some time in late July or early August, and a grant opening is scheduled for September. The Clinical & Translational Research Building was designed by Arrasmith, Judd, Rapp, Chovan, Inc. of Louisville and The SmithGroup of Detroit.

Snapshot: Clinical & Translational Research Building (Broken Sidewalk)
Street Trees Installed At New Research Building (Broken Sidewalk)

Eyes On The Street: From The Tipline

Branden Klayko — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:57:19 +0000

Demolition at the Haymarket site.

Here are a few of the latest updates submitted by out ever-vigilant network of tipsters. See something interesting out there around town? Tell us at tips@brokensidewalk.com.

Proof Gelato cart making the rounds Downtown. Proof on Main will be taking the cart around Downtown. It officially opened a couple days ago according to the carts Twitter stream. Check out the cart under construction at Consuming Louisville and see the finished cart over at Blog Proof. Excellent idea for summer in Louisville.
Sidewalks installed on Taylorsville Road. A tipster spotted crews recently pouring some concrete walkways in a completely unwalkable part of town. Now, you can risk your life in a safer way at the corner of Hurstbourne Lane and Taylorsville Road. Cynicism aside, hopefully this marks a step in the right direction. There are still vast areas of Louisville without sidewalks, and one more can never hurt.
Haymarket site completely cleared. Okay, so this is an older one, but we never had a chance to get the story online. The site bounded by Market, Jefferson, Preston, and Floyd Streets has been completely demolished. It’s going to be the future home of the bio-medical Nucleus campus. Don’t worry, nothing architecturally or historically important was on the site. The Interstate Blood Bank and a few 1970s or 1980s era one-story food vendors were all that was left. Finally, some demolition we can get behind; check out the photo up top.
Papa John’s Stadium Expansion going full steam ahead. A couple tipsters have written to share that construction on the new upper deck and walkway to the U of L football stadium is making some serious progress. Anyone have some photos they would like to share? Send them over to tips@brokensidewalk.com and we’ll get them online ASAP.

Demolition at the Haymarket site.

Demo Watch: Carmichael Building Tumbling Down

Broken Sidewalk — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:00:54 +0000

Omer Carmichael Building under demolition

The old Omer Carmichael Building on the corner of Muhammad Ali Boulevard and Hancock Street is nearly gone. Demolition got underway last week and was abruptly stopped when workers hit a water main causing flooding in the area. The adjacent James Graham Brown Cancer Center had to be closed down after flooding damaged electrical equipment.

The Carmichael Building was built in 1961 as an elementary school. The building wasn’t really anything special and was typical of a suburban style school of the 1960s with low height and large setbacks from the street. It was designed by D.X. Murphy & Brothers.

We’re not sure what’s going in its place, but it will likely be parking in the near-term. The area is part of the University of Louisville’s growing research campus, so redevelopment will be sure to happen at some point down the road.

Omer Carmichael Building under demolition

Snapshot: Clinical & Translational Research Building

Broken Sidewalk — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:38:22 +0000

Clinical & Translational Research Building

Yesterday the construction fence surrounding the University of Louisville‘s Clinical & Translational Research Building came down. The new $143.1 million building on the corner of Hancock Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard won’t open until July, but much of the exterior site work is already complete. Workers were seen installing a glass canopy overhanging the building’s main entrance as the fence was hauled away. Today, crews were removing the construction-worn asphalt on surrounding streets in preparation for repaving. Signs noting “Sidewalk Closed” were still placed on site, so the plaza might not be open for a little longer. The Clinical & Translational Research Building’s architectural services were provided by Arrasmith, Judd, Rapp, Chovan, Inc. of West Main Street and SmithGroup of Detroit.

Clinical & Translational Research Building

Medical Center Parking Garage Reveals Brick

Broken Sidewalk — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:02:22 +0000

Medical Center garage reveals brick facade

The parking garage under construction on the corner of Clay Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard in the Medical Center has begun to show it’s two-tone brick facade. Dark grey bricks have been set at the structures base along Madison Street and lighter red bricks span the upper floors. The lines and massing of the garage reflect those of the Clinical and Translational Research Building under construction next door. When complete, the garage will contain 1,700 parking spots on nine levels. The best feature of the building, however, is the sidewalk retail space on Muhammad Ali Blvd. Two new shops have been planned to face Liberty Green. No word yet on what might take the spaces, but the University of Louisville plans to seek proposals for the space soon.

Medical Center parking garage

Street Trees Installed At New Research Building

Broken Sidewalk — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:13:06 +0000

New Street Trees on Hancock Street

Yesterday, crews installed new street trees along Hancock Street and Muhammad Ali Blvd. in the Medical Center. You can see in the photos the tree boxes are large, and small metal brackets at the perimeter indicate a metal tree grate will eventually be installed around the tree. We’re happy to see the new trees aren’t spindly sapplings but have a trunk diameter of 3 or more inches. After the tree massacre downtown a couple weeks ago, we’re glad new trees will be sprouting in the new year.

Street Tree Installation In Progress