Walsh Brothers Unveils New Lab

October 21, 2010

Cambridge, MA – Walsh Brothers, Incorporated, in collaboration with architect Signer Harris, recently celebrated the completion of a state-of-the-art 50,000sf research space for the Broad Institute in Cambridge

Cambridge, MA – Walsh Brothers, Incorporated, in collaboration with architect Signer Harris, recently celebrated the completion of a state-of-the-art 50,000sf research space for the Broad Institute in Cambridge.
Since its inception in 2004, the Broad Institute has quickly risen to become a world leader in genomics research. Due to their rapid growth, Broad Institute saw a need to expand physically in order to accommodate new research initiatives. Institute turned to Walsh Brothers, to provide construction management services with the goal of creating an environment that would promote innovation and collaboration therefore, successfully achieving the Broad Institute’s mission.
Through the use of proactive and innovative strategies such as a Design Assist approach coupled with the use of 3D MEP modeling Walsh Brothers was able to successfully meet the project’s aggressive four month schedule. The use of Design Assist allowed for the inclusion of all MEP subcontractors in initial coordination meetings — while the project was still in the design development phase.
By bringing the subcontractors on board early the project had an immediate “head start” and it allowed for a more global and early understanding of the project’s intricate and critical MEP goals, issues, and plan.
An advanced research space such as Broad Institute requires the support of substantial MEP systems as well as the energy used to support those functions. Walsh Brothers was able to coordinate the MEP systems with the use of a collaborative model to which everyone on the design team contributed.
This model enabled Walsh Brothers to present to the Broad Institute a clear 3D visual road map for the MEP installation. This model was facilitated through the use of a robot which physically traversed the site and pinpointed the locations of each MEP hanger prior to delivery of equipment, making for a seamless installation of all systems.
The new research center will feature a Reverse Osmosis Deionizer (RODI), cold rooms, glass washers, multiple lab benches, wet and dry labs, media center, auditorium, support office, conference rooms, offices, pH neutralization tanks, and three biology research labs.