BUILDING STATISTICS
General Building Data
Building name: Potomic Science Center
Location: Woodbridge, VA
Site: 650 Mason Ferry Avenue
Construction Type: 1B Construction
Primary Occupant: George Mason University
Occupancy: Non-separated Mixed occupancy, Business “B” and Assembly “A-3”
Size: 50,000 square feet
Number of Stories: 5 stories, 4 elevated floors fully protected with automatic sprinkler system
Approximate construction dates: Oct 2014- May 2016
Approximate cost: 30 million
Primary Project Team
Owner: George Mason University
Architect: HKS and ZGF
MEP: GHT Limited
Structural Engineer: Tadjer-Cohen-Edelson, Associates, Inc.
Development Manager: Lincoln Property Company
General Contractor: E. E. Reed Construction, LP
Civil Engineer: The Engineering Groupe, Inc.
Landscape Architect: LandDesign
Architecture
George Mason University’s Potomac Science Center is a 50,000 SF, 4 story above grade educational building that will be home to the school’s Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center. This building is a waterfront building comprised of wet labs, lecture rooms, offices for graduate students and faculty a spatial analysis laboratory and a library and research center. The first floor contains different assembly areas, offices, lecture halls, and a large multi purpose room that could potentially be used as a library. The focus of the second and third floors are ecology labs, chemistry labs and offices. The second floor contains a computer lab while the third floor contains a classroom. The fourth floor is used for general storage and mechanical equipment.
Historical requirements: not applicable
Zoning: not available at this time
Building Enclosure
The exterior is a rear ventilated rain screen design with TAKTL Ultra High Performance Concrete Panels. Glass and glazing is a mix of curtain wall and standard aluminum punch windows with high performance low-e glass.
Sustainability Features
All public, non-lab plumbing has been designed with low flow fixtures that will achieve a 50% reduction in potable water use compared to EPA minimum standards. The building is being designed with the goal of achieving LEED silver status.
Part II
Construction
The Potomac Science Center utilized the “CM at Risk” delivery method. Project management is being handled by the owner, George Mason University while the general contractor is E. E. Reed Construction, LP. The project has an initial budget of $30 million. The design of the building is complete and environmental approvals have been obtained. Site work and foundation construction began in October 2014 and building opening is scheduled for May 2016.
Mechanical System
The building utilizes a 100% outdoor air mechanical system and an evaporatively cooled VAV rooftop unit in conjunction with an air cooled chiller that feeds the building's water cooling loop. The rooftop unit is sized at 31000CFM while the chilled water air handling units measure at 6700 CFM, 3000CFM and 2650CFM. Office and classroom zones receive air from Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) (DOAS) VAV boxes with hot water reheat sized at 800CFM and 1200CFM, while laboratory and support spaces are served by 100% OA shutoff VAV boxes. Lab spaces will feature special exhaust systems which can be adjusted from occupancy sensors.
Structural
The Potomac Science Center structural system was designed to accommodate snow, wind, and earthquake loads designated by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC).The building uses reinforced concrete floor slabs and a pile supported foundation. Structural steel shall be in accordance with the latest AISC Specs. for "Design, Fabrication and Erection of Structural Steel for Buildings". Precast, prestressed, concrete piles will conform to the requirement of the 2015 IBC Building Code. Piles will be 14"x14" square with minimum compressive strength of 6000 Psi at 28 days. The building exterior is comprised of a rear ventilated rain screen design with TAKTL Ultra High Performance Concrete Panels.
Electrical
The Potomac Science Center will use building power mostly at 480V/277 3 phase. This will be used for a majority of the lighting and mechanical systems. Included in the design are panels running at 208V/120 3 phase that supply some of the lighting and equipment.
