USTAR BioInnovations Center

Services Provided

VBFA provided the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, plumbing, fire protection and process piping for the USTAR Life Sciences Research Building on the Innovation Campus of Utah State University in Logan, Utah. VBFA also performed the Energy Modeling and the LEED Planning and Documentation for the mechanical work and assisted in the Mechanical Cost Estimating. One wing of the building houses research laboratories and another wing houses a 13,000 sq. ft. Vivarium and 5,000 sq. ft. of Bio-Safety Lab Level 3 (BSL-3) enhanced suites where research with select agents will be conducted. This area is intended to function as a “box within a box” and will have strictly controlled access, individual room monitoring and special security measures. The building has a number of safety features including redundant mechanical systems.

The Veterinary Diagnostics and Infectious Disease USTAR team, the Center for Advanced Nutrition and several other groups will be housed in this facility. Each BSL-3 room in the biosafety suite has its own HEPA filters and the mechanical design includes an individual decontamination system for each room.The design includes numerous energy saving strategies including:

• Energy Recovery System
• Indirect Evaporation for Inexpensive and Efficient Cooling
• Three-Stage Cooling
• Reduced Fan Static Pressure
• Reduced Exhaust and Make-Up Air Rates
• Large Grilles Ensure Safe Air Velocities
• Innovative Atrium Air Handler Application
• Atrium Smoke Control
• Water Conservation
• Reverse-Osmosis System
• Chilled Water Loop for Lab Processes