Consolidated College of Pharmacy Building Underway at Michigan
By Eric Althoff
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—The University of Michigan’s College of Pharmacy building continues construction work thanks to a team comprising construction management firm Turner Construction, designer RDG Planning & Design, MEP firm Alvine Engineering, structural engineer TD2 Engineering & Surveying, and civil engineer Midwestern Consulting.
The $141 million, 142,000-square-foot structure, due to be completed in time for the Fall 2025 term, consolidates operations of the College of Pharmacy under one roof. Previously, its various operations had been spread across campus in various facilities.
The construction plan entails a major push toward sustainability, with mass-timber techniques intended to not only speed up the timeline of work but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RDG’s design is anticipated to result in a 40-percent reduction in carbon emissions as part of the sustainable design, resulting in over 1,500 MTCO2e reduction. This is the equivalent to the amount of carbon that 1,800 acres of forest can trap in just one year.
Other sustainable construction elements include using chilled beams, water conservation as part of a stormwater management system, as well as high-efficiency power systems. The project will also save approximately 52 percent in its energy consumption by using on-campus power generation. The designers are aiming for LEED Gold certification.
In addition to being more sustainable, mass timber also reduces the potential catastrophic nature of a fire. The timber contains a “char layer” that protects the inner part of the building from burning. The mass timber also offers a strong frame that makes the building more endurable in the long term.
“The pharmacy community’s mission is to improve health outcomes, and our wellness is impacted by the environment,” Dean Vicki Ellingrod of the College of Pharmacy, said of the sustainable nature of the project. “I am happy that we are doing our part to support the university’s goals of carbon neutrality and sustainability.”
RDG Architect and Senior Partner Benjamin Kroll said that in addition to reducing the buildup of greenhouse gasses, the mass timber design offers a more “biophilic” environment that is beneficial not only for the environment but for students of the College of Pharmacy.
“This project represents a significant leap forward in sustainable building practices and serves as a model for future research projects aiming for environmental responsibility,” said Kroll.
RDG Planning & Design offers services in landscape architecture, interior design, lighting design, urban and comprehensive planning and design, as well as graphic design, engineering and integrated and public art. The firm operates from locations in Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin.