Projects - University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Lutheran Pavillion BMT/GMP Laboratory
Houston, Texas
The project involved the renovation of approximately 18,000 square feet of level 14 of the Lutheran Pavilion, converting the space from patient care to laboratory and production space for the synthesis of manufactured blood products.
The entire MEP infrastructure on the floor was redesigned, including new air handling units in the penthouse, a new manifold exhaust system, new electrical service, new laboratory gases and a new fire alarm system. Portions of the space were designated as class 10,000 clean rooms, and the design was submitted for approval to the FDA. One important challenge in this project was cost control.
When initial bids revealed the construction cost was over the anticipated budget, rather than allow the project to terminate, the entire design team worked closely with the owner and the contractor to implement ways to cut scope and save money without sacrificing quality.
The facility included ten product processing rooms within the FDA-regulated space, an additional ten routine processing areas, clean room corridors and airlocks, product validation areas, a cell sorter, a wet lab, a cold room, a large freezer storage area, office areas and multi-use spaces. The balance of the Lutheran Pavilion continued to function as primary patient care space, and its operations were not disrupted by this project.