University Building’s Walls Assist Collaborative Approach
BOSTON-When Boston University went to build its new Life Science and Engineering Building, it decided to organize interior spaces by areas of research rather than traditional academic departments. The idea was to foster interdisciplinary discoveries among biologists, chemists and biological engineers.
However, the building site was immediately adjacent to the Massachusetts Turnpike, a busy thoroughfare that generates traffic noise throughout the day. To achieve the desired interior sound dampening effect and provide condensation resistance to support a controlled research environment, the university’s building contractor turned to Wausau Window and Wall Systems for a solution. The company’s engineers worked closely with the contractors to dampen the nearby noise and create a more studious interior. The solution was 37,000 square feet of 8250-HP Superwall, a high-performance system of two-inch thick, triple-glazed insulated units that were able to meet an STC 40 on the elevation facing the turnpike and ensure the desired condensation resistance.
Designed by Boston-based Cannon Design, the 10-story, 187,000-square-foot academic tower includes 41 laboratories, 45 offices, conference rooms and 150-seat seminar room. Turner Construction oversaw the $83 million project, employing a team of 200 tradesmen.
The project’s glazing contractor lifted the punched and strip windows, and multi-level curtainwall bays into the 10 floors using a narrow Boston street as its staging area. To achieve the called-for STC and U-values meant that many of the units were thick and heavy. Most weighed 400 to 500 pounds apiece; some were more than 600 pounds.