State-of-the-Art Laboratory
University of South Florida Health Virology & Infectious Disease Facility | Tampa, FL
The project consisted of the build-out of an existing building to provide a state-of-the-art laboratory for USF Health’s Virology and Infectious Disease Department. The purpose of the space focuses on the research and identification of infectious diseases. The project provides students with an advanced space to gain laboratory experience under the direction of faculty research teams. The project scope includes four main elements: open laboratories, office spaces, dedicated lab space, and a BSL-3 laboratory. The project was constructed on an active university campus and within an operating building.
Partners
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Client USF Research Foundation
Project Delivery Streamlined Execution
DPR successfully delivered the University of South Florida’s new 21,000 square-foot lab with a 3,000 square-foot Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) space, a critical facility for infectious disease research. Operating on an active university campus, DPR leveraged innovative construction strategies, advanced coordination, and lean scheduling to streamline execution while minimizing disruptions.
To enhance efficiency, DPR built the schedule with multi-trade overhead racks in mind, coordinating early through laser scanning and BIM modeling to prefabricate and install the components. This approach reduced laydown space, improved workflow efficiency, and resulted in significant labor savings. The team also collaborated with Gensler and facilities management to optimize valve and access point locations for long-term maintenance and serviceability.
A lean construction scheduling methodology ensured timely delivery of long-lead equipment and lab casework, with daily subcontractor huddles, biweekly scheduling meetings, and Primavera 6 schedule tracking. Managing construction alongside two other DPR projects within the same building, DPR executed precise logistics coordination to avoid conflicts and maintain productivity.
DPR’s self-perform team executed $1.3 million in drywall, concrete, and demolition work, proactively identifying a post-COVID insulation shortage and substituting an alternative material, saving the owner $50,000. Additionally, the PanelMax machine was employed to enhance drywall fabrication efficiency, ensuring higher quality, reduced waste, and faster installations.
Innovation Digital Collaboration
DPR utilized its web-based project management software system Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC). This cloud-based platform incorporated workflows for collaboration on RFIs, submittals, document control, meeting minutes, forms and checklists, reporting, project turnover, BIM, schedule, and other processes for quality control into a single location with digestible dashboards so that all stakeholders (project team, USF, Gensler, trade partners) had all of the information they need readily available.
DPR and its staff have directly interacted with me and my lab in ways that have accelerated the work we do and set us up for years of success. This is a result of their excellent work, consummate professionalism, and true dedication to understanding the needs of the end user. While my experience with DPR as a whole has been excellent, it is the individuals who are the personal face of the company that have made this such a remarkable partnership.
J. Zachary Porterfield, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of South Florida College of Medicine
USF Research Foundation
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