The interior program contains open lab, support lab, office space and gathering areas, and includes a new 5,176-sq.-ft. CMU/steel framed mechanical mezzanine and exterior service yard. Additional scope encompassed an upgraded fire protection system and new mechanical systems, including a new central plant with a water-cooled chiller, counter flow cooling tower and all new electrical distribution. Completing the build-out, 20,000-sq.-ft. of Covered Parking was added to the existing area, including 100 spaces, 4 of which meet American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliancy.

Central Plant:
The newly installed Central Plant was built to accommodate a 41,150-sq.-ft. Lab/Corporate Office Build-Out for Caris Life Sciences. The HVAC mechanical systems design is based on a primary variable volume chilled water system for cooling, and dual gas-fired boilers for heating.  The chilled water side consist of (1) 293-ton chiller, (1) factory assembled 1-cell 927 GPM Cooling Tower with appropriate primary & condenser pumps.  Heating side consist of (2) 120 GPM Power-Fin Water Tube Boilers & associated primary and recirculation pumps. The boilers also feed two water-to-water heat exchangers, which provide domestic hot water and industrial hot water for the facility. Central Plant also houses domestic water booster pump & Triplex water softener system for the building.  In addition to the installed, appropriate planning for future expansion/future equipment was put in place.

The Health Sciences Education Building (HSEB) is part of the inter-institutional campus for health science education and research, and supports the colleges of medicine, pharmacy, nursing, allied health, and biomedical informatics. The new 268,000-square-foot, six-story facility consists of administration and faculty offices, lecture halls, learning studios, flexible classrooms, student and faculty services, clinical skills suite, simulation suite, gross anatomy facilities, class laboratories, learning resource center, cafeteria, student lockers, group study rooms, conference rooms and miscellaneous building support. HSEB and future research buildings are connected by a north-south structure that houses public functions and spaces for the occupants of these facilities as part of an effort to ensure that educators, researchers, students, and teachers meet and encourage an interdisciplinary approach to pedagogy and research.

A key characteristic of the program is a model of collective resources shared by the University of Arizona’s College of Pharmacy and the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, and by Northern Arizona University’s College of Health and Human Services programs. An interactive planning process, which involved educators from the cross-section of health sciences disciplines, has worked collaboratively to create an educational vision of a team-based continuity of care model.

Project won Best of 2012 Healthcare Project by ENR Southwest Magazine.

Although this tower expansion was designed in 2D, DPR modeled all major components of the project's structural, mechanical and electrical systems in 3D to determine, review and prevent potential clash detection problems. Additionally, DPR modeled interior components of the building to allow the owner to virtually walk critical spaces and make adjustments to locations of medical equipment prior to construction in the field.

Due to the size and complexity of the two-story facility, DPR broke down the building construction into six areas within the project schedule, thus streamlining all work sequencing. Building Information Modeling (BIM) was used 100 percent for the four-month structural steel erection, all Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) systems and all mock-up/first installs. 3D models were generated to detect/identify early-on clashes between systems and minimize issues in the field.

Sequencing and scheduling of major activities to support the construction schedule were key. The jobsite ran two shifts throughout the entire construction. The second shift work was carefully pre-planned and the major subcontractors for each shift were chosen by using DPR's Planning System (based on the Last Planner™ methodology) to truly identify what activities were the most logical actions to take place at each time of the day.

Working within a tight budget, this compact, 80,000-lb. (approximately 34,000 sq. ft.) copper-clad structure, provides a home to one of the largest nursing programs in the United States and serves as the campus' primary gateway on its marquee corner. The new ground-up, multi-use, 84,000-sq.-ft., 5-story facility contains classrooms, office and administrative spaces, a 200-seat conference center and a 60-seat computer classroom laboratory.

A primary aim in building this facility was to accelerate the pace of discovery and innovation. The facility has been designed to meet the most stringent demands by experimental programs in biotechnology and nanotechnology; to enhance communication and collaboration between researchers with an open, shared lab design and a central atrium linking all floors; to be flexible allowing for rapid reconfiguration of space and equipment to meet the changing demands of the research programs; and to be a hub providing the linkage between the multi-disciplinary research groups and those from leading industries and regional institutions.

Building A was completed Fall 2004 and achieved LEED® -NC Gold certification. Building B, was completed Fall 2005 and achieved LEED® -NC Platinum certification.

The buildings achieved LEED®-NC Gold Level Certification.

Sustainable features of the buildings include $3.5 million of dual-pane, low-E exterior glass, which provides natural daylighting and views, and perforated metal screens that shade the buildings. Approximately 50 percent of the complex’s hardscape is stabilized decomposed granite, chosen to reduce the “heat island” effect, and a large retaining wall was made of recycled concrete. DPR also demolished, crushed on-site and reused 4,400 tons of asphalt and concrete for the sub-base of the fire access loop road. In fact, about 90 percent of the site’s waste was either reused on-site or diverted from landfills.

When the project team of Banner Health System’s newest facility set out to build the hospital for the future, they tapped into some of the best minds in healthcare to help co-create a hospital that would not only meet today’s needs but those of 2010 and beyond. Well before Banner Health opened the doors of Banner Estrella Medical Center in January 2005, the 172-bed Greenfield hospital project was already a notable award winner. The project captured “Best of ‘04 Award” for Private Projects over $5 million from Southwest Contractor Magazine, the AIA Arizona Honor Award in the “Distinguished Building” category, and most recently, an “Award of Excellence – Built Projects” from Modern Healthcare magazine, with a leading panel of architects calling it “the closest thing to the hospital of the future.”

Phase one of an extensive master plan for the campus, the facility is anchored by a 133,000-sq.-ft. cancer outpatient center and supported by 76 patient beds on two floors inside of Banner Gateway Medical Center. Utilizing the multi-disciplinary care approach pioneered at MD Anderson, services include medical, radiation and surgical oncology, pathology, laboratory, diagnostic imaging, as well as other supportive clinical services. The new, state-of-the-art design merges the “high tech” world of medicine with the “high touch” needs of cancer patients and their families to provide an unmatched environment for cancer care in the valley.

The building also features a “Lantern of Hope,” a symbolic beacon for patients and their families, lighting the path of hope along the cancer journey– hope for healing, acceptance and personal wishes. The four-story metal structure is constructed of water-jet cut metal and steel, and is patterned to reflect the leaves and branches of the palo verde tree, known for its healing properties. The lantern is illuminated by the sun during the day, and from within at night with beautiful colors of light.