University of Minnesota, McGuire Translational Research Building

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Firm

Perkins and Will

Client

University of Minnesota

Area

98,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$29,100,000

Completion Date

06/2005

The McGuire Translational Research Building houses research space for 33 clinical scientists in pharmacy, infectious diseases and stem-cell research.
The principal design directive from the University of Minnesota was to provide an architecturally significant building that enhances recruitment potential, supports excellence in research and creates community spaces within the building.
The design concept recognizes the importance of creating a positive and interactive environment for research that helps establish a new research district between the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses. Researcher offices are set on columns stretched above the landscape and across the front of new and existing buildings to create a pedestrian arcade and landscaped courtyards.
This arcade provides a gently scaled link into the future multi-
disciplinary research precinct that will be developed throughout the former rail yards. This is the first University of Minnesota research lab building that is fully flexible with movable lab counters and adjustable services provided from the ceiling. Through DOEII modeling, the combined energy performance of the lab building is more than 45 percent better than Minnesota’s required energy code.