University of Rhode Island, Center for Biotechnology and Life Science

The structure features a monumental stair, two-story auditorium, and mechanical penthouses. While the L-shaped structure is built into a natural hillside, there is at-grade access to the first floor and basement level. The north and south wings are separated by a four-story atrium spanned by pedestrian bridges at each floor. The building features a green roof with public access spaces. SGH developed a structural design that accomplished the following:

• Resolving substantial unbalanced earth pressures on the building due to the hillside location
• Detailing the connection from the pedestrian bridges to the building wings to accommodate expansion and architectural requirements
• Distributing wind and earthquake forces through the pedestrian bridges to the concentrically braced steel frames in the laboratory and teaching wings
• Supporting the atrium’s four-story curtain wall system with hangers from the roof structure instead of large columns that would have affected the space’s aesthetics
• Coordinating the atrium’s structural design with the architect and curtain wall designer/fabricator