Rose Mary Su
Labs + Sensitive Facilities | Market Leader
Principal
The University of Pennsylvania is adding the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST) to its growing list of research facilities. This new building will be home to the University’s existing and future energy research programs. Behnisch Architekten is leading the design effort of the 110,000 SF highly sustainable building. Acentech is providing both acoustics and vibration consulting for the entire project.
The Vagelos Laboratory will house High Performance Optics Labs, Fume-Intensive Chemistry Labs, a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer Suite with Helium Recovery, Faculty Offices, collaboration areas, and support spaces across six floors. Acentech’s consultants are collaborating with the designers to provide the necessary vibration and acoustic isolation measures for the sensitive laboratories. Acentech is also providing mechanical systems noise and vibration control services to ensure that the vibration and noise generated by building systems will be consistent with the building’s design goals.
The new VLEST will be located on the edge of the University of Pennsylvania campus near the David Rittenhouse Laboratory and the Palestra athletic facility. Acentech’s consultants are implementing a design that will overcome significant environmental noise challenges with extensive mitigation strategies. We are also paying special attention to the adjacent railway bed, and are specifying design measures to mitigate structural vibration. This new building will facilitate UPenn’s status as one of the nation’s premier energy and technology research centers for years to come.
