Virginia Tech Infectious Disease Research Facility
Blacksburg, VA
The Infectious Disease Research Facility (IDRF) is a 2-story, 15,707sf facility for which Branch was selected to serve as Construction Manager at Risk (CM@Risk) in 2010. IDRF is a premier LAB facility within Virginia Tech’s Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and includes 8,800sf of Biosafety 2 laboratory and research space.
The scope of work included refurbishing an existing stormwater management facility, compacted soil piers in lieu of caissons (a cost saving proposal tended by Branch during preconstruction to reduce costs), structural steel framing with 8-10” SWISSPEARL® façade panels (lightweight and aesthetic) and a one-story fully enclosed passageway to connect IDRF with the original College of Veterinary Medicine Building next door. Interior build-out included laboratory casework, fume hoods, high-fume laboratory discharge fans, complex HVAC and ventilation systems, building automation controls, fire alarm and suppression systems.
BIM technology was utilized from the onset of the project and was one of the most important tools we used to improve our quality, improve our costs and improve our schedules of construction. The project was constructed under budget and on schedule with a cost savings returned to Virginia Tech exceeding 2% of contract.