Virginia Tech ICTAS II

Blacksburg, VA

Client: Read & Company Architecture

Completion Date: 2005

Construction on the second Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science building, this one in the Life Sciences District of campus, began in April 2009. The institute supports and promotes cutting edge research at the intersection of engineering, science and medicine.

The project consists of vibration testing, vibration isolation design, noise control design and construction administration of a 3-story lab building. Noise and vibration control to address mechanical equipment, traffic with buses and people walking. Electron microscopes located on the bottom floor (slab grade) that need vibration levels of 12 micrometers/sec (500in/sec). Suspended floors for optical microscopes to meet 50 micrometers/sec (2000in sec). Scope: Review of structural and mechanical drawings. Site visit with vibration testing. Vibration isolation for equipment, design and mitigation for microscope spaces. Vibration analysis of structure regarding walking and equipment.

The facility is LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.