Walsh Bros. and Signer Harris complete 50,000 s/f research center for the Broad Institute; project team uses Design Assist program with 3D MEP Modeling

Walsh Brothers, Inc., in collaboration with architect Signer Harris, celebrated the completion of a 50,000 s/f research space for the Broad Institute. Since its inception in 2004, the Broad Institute has risen to become a world leader in genomics research. Due to their growth, Broad Institute saw a need to physically expand in order to accommodate new research initiatives. Broad Institute turned to Walsh Bros. to provide construction management services with the goal of creating and 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 Bros. was able to successfully meet the project's aggressive 4 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 Bros. was able to coordinate the MEP systems with the use of a collaborative model that everyone on the design team contributed to. This model enabled Walsh Bros. 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. Walsh Bros. completed construction within the occupied building and amidst sensitive research activities ahead of schedule, and with value engineering savings returned to the Broad Institute. 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 3 biology research labs.