LABORATORY/RESEARCH
Southwest Research Institute Applied Physics Research Building No. 238
Southwest Research Institute, among the oldest independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organizations in the United States, selected Broaddus & Associates to manage the new research building for its Applied Physics Division. Due to the changing nature of the research performed, the Institute required a flexible plan which could respond to a variety of opportunities. The Broaddus & Associates team, who provided programming, pre-project planning and full project management services throughout design and construction, worked closely with the design team to implement a solution that allowed for maximum flexibility and was most cost-effective.
The facility needed very specialized lab areas with costly systems and compartmentalized security to serve its users. Yet the office spaces do not require the same costly mechanical and electrical system standards. For that reason, this facility was designed with two distinct spaces: a main building to accommodate administration and support areas, and a high-bay area to house labs. This separation of spaces reduced the overall cost of the project, and has become a new building model for the Institute.