Invasive Species Research Building

This 50,000-sf animal research facility located at The National Wildlife Research Center Campus on the Foothills Campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins was constructed to research invasive animal species from all over the world.  The facility consists of animal containment rooms, office space, laboratory facilities, and building support services.  The components of the mechanical design included laboratory exhaust systems with heat recovery, desiccant dehumidification, steam humidification, active room pressurization control, and RO and DI treated water systems. Electrical design involved intense lighting and dimming requirements with day light simulation at up to 1700 fc using mixtures of various lighting types including, fluorescent, metal halide, and high-pressure sodium.  Other electrical systems include a 1500 KW emergency generator, and UPS systems. This “one-of-a-kind” project features simulated natural environment rooms to recreate diverse temperature and humidity climates, and systems which can readily change the environment of each containment. The total construction cost for the project was $15 million. For this project, BCER met the mechanical and electrical standards set by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC).