Press Clippings
FM Data Monthly
March 2002

Facility Profile: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
By: K. Robert Wendel

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center recently opened its new $75-million facility in St. Louis, Missouri. The 150,000-sf complex situated on 40 acres is a research facility dedicated to the study of how plant science can be used to improve human nutrition and the sustainability of agriculture worldwide.

At full capacity the Danforth Center will ultimately house 17 principal investigators and more than 200 scientists, making it one of the world's largest and most advanced research facilities dedicated to basic plant science research. The facility includes 19 laboratory modules, 32 individual environmentally controlled plant growth chambers, 19 custom designed growth rooms, and a 12,000-sf greenhouse complex. Scientists will conduct research in the areas of genetics, chemistry, cell biology, biochemistry, root biology, computational genomics, and structural biology. The Center features the largest computer system currently in use for plant science research.

The design objective of the Danforth Center was to establish a working environment that allows scientists to explore and exchange ideas. The building's openness, connected by stairwells and balconies, and abundant gathering spaces where scientists can meet and/or run into each other while working, fosters interaction and encourages collaboration. The creation of an open and accessible environment also provides a forum where the public is introduced to the research work through lectures and presentations.

The three-story main building features two, 11,000-sf lab wings on each floor separated by a 9,500-sf atrium that connects to the main lobby on the ground floor. The labs connect across the atrium via two bridges. A library is located on the second floor, the faculty lounge is on the third level, and administrative and support offices are located on all three levels. The lower level features conference and multipurpose rooms, a 300-seat auditorium, cafeteria and food service area, and the head house.

The head house, located beneath the main laboratory building, features the roots for all research and includes soil mix, transformation, NMR spaces, and reach-in and walk-in plant growth chambers with dimmable lighting throughout the light spectrum and an advanced control and monitoring system. The head house connects to the greenhouses by way of a glass walkway.

The wet labs are a series of connected open plans based on an 11' by 30' planning module. There are 21 labs per floor for a total of 63 labs throughout the building. There are 12 modules in the east wing and nine in the west lab wing. There are central safety closets, darkrooms, and glass washing/sterilization spaces on each floor. The main lab spaces are basic plant biology labs and feature modular casework systems. The adjoining lab support spaces are ”flex“ labs, customized for each researcher. The main lab remains generic and the smaller support spaces are specific to the researchers' needs, enabling the facility to be changed quickly and efficiently as research needs emerge.

Piped services are supplied vertically in pipe chases at the island benches. Piped service fittings and electrical outlets at the island benches are mounted in the vertical support members instead of the countertop, leaving the countertop free of obstruction. Direct and indirect pendant light fixtures used in the labs reduce glare and shadowing. Perimeter lab offices open directly into the labs so researchers and technicians are never far from their labs.

A complex ventilation system was installed that utilizes 100 percent fresh air to prevent cross-contamination of research studies. Typically, only 20 to 30 percent of the air brought into a building is fresh air. The system provides eight air changes in an hour, in which the entire building is completely emptied and filled once again with new fresh air. The Danforth Center's electrical system includes a backup diesel generator with a 5,000-gallon fuel tank that can be refueled while it is running, providing a continuous source of power and insurance against power outages.

The not-for-profit Danforth Center is a partnership among several public and private institutions including the Missouri Botanical Garden, Monsanto Company, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri-Columbia, Purdue University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Project Information

Building Owner: Danforth Plant Science Center
Owner Contact: Howard Beittenmiller, Manager of Facilities and Support Services
Building Location: St. Louis
Project Type: New construction
Principal Building Function: Plant Research
Lead Consultant and Design Architect: Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, London, England
Architect of Record and Technical Architect: Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Inc. (HOK), St. Louis

Consultants

Civil Engineers: Morrison Knudsen, St. Louis
Consulting Engineer/Mechanical Systems: C&R Mechanical Company, Bridgeton, Mo.
Geotechnical Engineer: PSI Engineers, St. Louis
Interior Architect: HOK Inc., St. Louis
Landscape Architect: HOK Inc. and Mark Westcott
MEP and Controls: Lillie & Company, St. Louis
Project Manager: Landmark Contract Management, St. Louis
Quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon & Everest, London, England
Structural and Mechanical Engineers: Ove Arup & Partners, San Francisco; C&R/Icon, St. Louis
Builder: McCarthy Building Companies Inc., St. Louis
Project Delivery Method: Construction Manager/General Contractor; Design/Build: mechanical and plumbing; Fast-Track

Project Start Dates

Planning/Programming: May 1998
Design: August 1999
Construction: October 1999
Project Completion Date: October 2001
Total Design Time: 14 months
Total Construction Time: 24 months
Construction Cost: $55 million
Total Project Cost: $75 million
Occupancy Cost: $183,000/person
Cost per SF: $367

Building Information

Total NSF: 136,363
Greenhouse Complex: 10,500
Head House: 21,363
Main Building: 104,500 (total)
Auditorium Complex: 3,700
Laboratory: 50,700
Public/Support Space: 50,100
Total GSF: 150,000
Building Efficiency: 91%
Building Population: 300
People Density: 500 sf/person

Approximate Allocation of Occupied Space

Administrative Offices: 13%
Labs and/or Technical Space: 51%
Public Use: 18%
Researcher Offices: 12%
Support Space: 6%
Building Services: RO/DI; gas; compressed air; vacuum
Lab/Planning Module: 11' x 30'
Special Equipment: Environmental growth chambers; bio cold rooms
Overall HVAC Requirements: 1.3 cfm/nsf
Overall Power Requirements: 16.9 watts/nsf
Structure Foundation Type: Concrete and structural steel building with drilled piers and spread footings
Casework: Maple wood finish casework; Chemical resistant countertops
Fume Hoods: 32

Equipment & System Suppliers

Air Handling Units: York, York, Pa.
Building and Security Access System: Andover/Eagle, St. Louis
Chillers: Trane, La Crosse, Wis.
Elevators: Thyssen Krupp, Memphis, Tenn.
Environmental Enclosures: Controlled Environments Limited (Conviron), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Flooring Company (Vinyl, Linoleum, Carpet, Tile, Stone, Athletic): William Zickel/Dave Zickel, Fenton, Mo.
Flooring Company (Wood): Tony Prince Company Inc., St. Louis
Fume Hoods: Kewaunee, Statesville, N.C.
Furniture: Knoll/Corporate Interiors Inc., St. Louis; Herman Miller Workplace Resource,
St. Louis
Laboratory Casework: Kewaunee, Statesville, N.C.
Laboratory Fixtures: Kewaunee, Statesville, N.C.
Laboratory Furniture: Biofit, Waterville, Ohio
Lab and Fume Hood Controls: Phoenix Control Systems, San Jose, Calif.

Reprinted with Permission © March 2002 from FM DATACOM, a registered product of Tradeline Inc., a provider of leading-edge resources to facilities planning and management through conferences, publications, and the Internet community. Visit www.TradelineInc.com for more information.

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