The Vontz Center
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 One
of the newest buildings to become part of the University of Cincinnati's
campus is the Vontz Center for Molecular Studies, a state-of-the-art
disease research facility. Inside the $46 million, 150,000 sq ft
(13,936 m2) facility, premier medical researchers recruited from
around the country will study brain cancers and other neurological
disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and
epilepsy. They will be pursing medical breakthroughs for these and
other cancer and blood diseases at the molecular level. Behind its
unusual exterior is a concrete frame that was designed and constructed
from the architect's scale model, using three-dimensional computer
modeling and design software.
Signature architect
for the project, Frank Gehry of Frank O. Gehry & Associates,
Santa Monica, California, described the building as "a box
cracked open with offices running through," according to an
article in the Cincinnati Enquirer. The first floor plan is roughly
in the shape of a "plus sign," with two long laboratory
wings (an office wing and an auditorium wing). The exterior walls
have a 'sculpted" rather than a "constructed" shape.
The structural
engineering firm for this project, THP Limited, Inc., has designed
and restored a wide range of concrete structures, including high-rise
buildings, stadiums, parking structures, water tanks, and bridges.
Jim Millar, a principal of THP Limited, and manager of this project's
structural design had this to say about the material that was chosen
for the structural frame:
"Concrete
was chosen for the primary framing system to limit vibrations (critical
in laboratory buildings) and to provide a 'fluid' system adaptable
to the irregular shape of the exterior walls and roofs.
To keep the
perimeter columns vertical and within the building envelope, the
columns were held toward the interior and back from the sloping
exterior walls. The beams and girders, as well as the primary reinforcing
of the spandrel members, were also held back from the exterior walls.
Additional concrete with minor reinforcing was added to the spandrel
members, or the slabs were slightly cantilevered (12 to 24 in. (305
to 610 mm)) beyond the spandrels in order to meet the exterior panels
and curtain walls. These measures permitted fine-tuning of the slab
edge to the exterior without significant impact to the primary structure.
The slab edge was easily adjusted to accommodate various panel systems
and to provide the tolerance and field adjustments critical to a
building of this complexity (the final panel system for the building
was not known until the bids were received).
Concrete was
also an advantage in forming the curving 'hairpin'-shaped monumental
stairs in the atrium, and the sloping cantilevered sills that support
the curtain wall of the large floor to floor windows."
The building,
which is supported on 108 concrete caissons that are 30 to 54 in.
(762 to 1,372 mm) in diameter and drilled 50 to 80 ft (15.2 to 24.4
m) to bedrock, has 14-in. (356-mm) thick basement and foundation
walls for a one story below grade mechanical room and enclosed dock.
Many of these walls curve horizontally to follow the curves of the
exterior walls above.
There are two
typical concrete floor systems utilized in the Vontz Center. In
the lab wings, a pan joist banded beam system is used, which consists
of 5-in. (127-mm) thick slabs on 30-in. wide by 20-in. deep (762-mm
wide by 508-mm deep) pans, with 6-in. (152-mm) wide ribs spaced
36 in. (914 mm) on center. The office and atrium areas utilize a
slab-beam system consisting of 8 in. (203 mm) slabs on 25 to 40
in. (635 to 1,016) deep beams that are supported on 24 in. (610
mm) square columns.
Concrete with
a specified compressive strength of 5,000 psi (35 MPa) was utilized
for the reinforced concrete frame construction.
Ground was broken
in December of 1996, and the project topped out in December of 1997.
In spite of the intricate construction shape and the added complexity
of accurately locating 3,000 embed plates in the concrete, the frame
was completed ahead of schedule. "This allowed the mechanical
and electrical trades to begin their rough-in activities early and
complete them ahead of schedule," stated Daniel Dugan, the
general contractor's project manager. "It also allowed us to
start the exterior envelope work, which was critical to the project's
success."
Note that in
addition to the Vontz Center, the Dugan & Meyers Construction
Co. has been involved in numerous noteworthy projects throughout
the Midwest, including high-rise office buildings, hotels, convention
centers, hospitals, stadiums, parking structures, and other various
retail, manufacturing, and educational facilities.
The world-renowned
laboratory designer Earl Walls, of Earl Walls Associates, San Diego,
California, designed the interior laboratory space for the Vontz
Center.
Credits
Owner: University of Cincinnati
Architect: Frank O. Gehry & Associates
Associate Architect/Construction Administrator: BHDP Architecture
Interior Laboratory Design: Earl Walls Associates
Structural Engineer: THP Limited
General Contractor: Dugan & Meyers Construction Co.
Concrete Forming Subcontractor: Ceco Concrete Construction
Concrete Supplier: Hilltop Basic Resources, Inc.
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