The University of Rhode Island (URI) has seen a ceremonial groundbreaking to launch construction of its new US$125 million engineering complex.
The project will result in a 190,000ft2 facility designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, and which can evolve to meet the technology-driven changes in all segments of engineering.
This first phase of the build represents the largest construction project in the University’s history, and it is due for completion in summer 2019. The second phase of the project is a $25.5m upgrade and expansion of Bliss Hall, the college’s historic home on the Quadrangle.
The new building will house seven of eight University engineering programmes: biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, industrial and systems and mechanical engineering. Ocean engineering is based at the Narragansett Bay Campus. Not only had the older buildings not undergone any major improvements in more than 50 years, but they did not provide the open and flexible teaching, learning and research spaces necessary to adequately prepare engineering students and fully serve faculty members.
A key structural feature of the building is the truss support system of the type used in bridge design and construction. The new engineering facility will have three trusses, which eliminate the need for interior support columns or posts and allow for large, open spaces.
The ground floor will also house vibration-proof core laboratories available to all engineering faculty, and a cleanroom. Since much of the testing involves measuring nanoparticles and vibrations, any outside vibrations would interfere with the testing.
On the lower- or ground-level floor, there will be two, 72-seat active classrooms, and a 60-seat active learning classroom.
The first floor, called the Quad-level floor, will look out to the new Engineering Quadrangle. It will have an exterior patio with seating and a cafe made out of modern composite materials. A glassed-walled section will allow observers to see into senior capstone project space for seven engineering programmes.
The first floor will also house the College’s first student shop, from which students will be able to access equipment round the clock. It will also be home to two computer labs and two electronic student centres.
The second floor is the home for four teaching and learning labs and four research labs, in addition to two wings of offices.
The fourth-floor offers two labs for the college’s smart cities disciplines and robotics.
Ballinger of Philadelphia, is the prime architect, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, and structural engineer on the project. The associate architectural firm is DBVW of Providence. The associate structural engineering firm is Odeh Engineers of North Providence. The owner’s representative is Hill International, an international firm with an office in Providence. The construction management firm is Dimeo Construction Co. of Providence.
