Award-winning California builder C.W. Driver Companies today announced the completion of the $63 million Alton and Lydia Lim Center for Science, Technology and Health at Biola University in La Mirada. The 91,200-square-foot educational center will serve the institution’s fast growing and high-demand science, technology and health programs, and triples the amount of space devoted to these fields at the university. The expansive new facility, which marks the university’s most ambitious building project to date, boasts sustainable features throughout to optimize energy and water use efficiency.
“It was an honor to partner with the leadership team at Biola University and Gensler to construct an all-new, state-of-the-art educational facility that enhances teaching and research space for the next generation of science and healthcare professionals,” said Tom Jones, project executive at C.W. Driver Companies. “With our extensive experience constructing a wide-range of educational facilities, especially science and technology buildings, we are proud to be a part of this next chapter for science education at Biola.”
Comprised of four floors with learning space in, around and on top of the building, the lower level is home to the nursing program and vibration sensitive labs. The first floor is dedicated to anatomy and biology, the second floor to biology and physics and the third floor to chemistry. To maximize space and complement the university’s developing botany program, the rooftop features an observatory with an on-site greenhouse.
In total, the facility offers 28 laboratories, including a dedicated microscope lab for SEM (scanning and electron microscope) and TEM (transmission electron microscope) work, five classrooms, various research and flexible work spaces and innovative resources to cultivate adaptation to new sciences, technology and pedagogy.
"We greatly appreciated the experience and professionalism the C.W. Driver team brought to this project,” said Brian Phillips, senior director of facilities management at Biola University. “We were seeking a firm with strong experience constructing science facilities and a deep understanding of the unique needs of higher education clients. C.W. Driver exceeded our expectations."
With a commitment to sustainability and stability, C.W. Driver Companies constructed the Lim Center with a stiff, structural steel frame to protect the facility’s sensitive instruments. The project was awarded the LEED® Silver certification for its dedication to sustainability and received 21 Golden Gate Awards, a new record for California, for demonstrating workplace safety and health during the California OSHA Consolation Service visit.
In addition to project executive Tom Jones, the C.W. Driver Companies project team included Scott Kaufman, project manager; Stephen du Toit, superintendent and Britney Calucag, senior project engineer. C.W. Driver Companies worked alongside Gensler, The Raymond Group, Al-Cal, DSM and Safway on the project.
The Biola University Alton and Lydia Lim Center for Science, Technology and Health is a recent addition to C.W. Driver Companies’ higher education portfolio, which includes: Chapman University’s Center for Science and Technology; Orange Coast College’s Student Housing; University of California, Santa Barbara’s Davidson Library Addition and Renewal; San Francisco State University’s Student Recreation and Wellness Center and California Polytechnic State University, Pomona’s Student Services Building.
About C.W. Driver Companies
C.W. Driver Companies is a premier builder serving California since 1919. As a leader in general contracting and construction management services, C.W. Driver Companies are on the cutting edge across a broad spectrum of industries, including education, commercial/office, technology, healthcare/biomedical, mixed-use, assisted living, entertainment, retail, industrial and civic. Ranked in Engineering News Record‘s Top 150 General Contractors and Top 100 Construction Managers, C.W. Driver Companies has the ability to build a variety of projects, from large tenant improvements to small renovations and specialized projects through its affiliates Driver SPG and Good & Roberts. C.W. Driver Companies has offices located in Los Angeles, Irvine, Rancho Cucamonga, Anaheim, San Diego, Carlsbad and San Jose. For more information, please visit www.cwdriver.com. Follow C.W. Driver Companies on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.