Arup breaks ground on $150 million 170,000 s/f project at Boston University - known as the Center for Integrated Life Science & Engineering

Arup hosts groundbreaking of the $150 million, nine-story, 170,000 s/f Boston University (BU) Center for Integrated Life Science & Engineering (CILSE). The property is located on what was a parking lot at 610 Commonwealth Ave. Designed by Payette, the modern and sustainable facility will bring together life scientists, engineers and physicians in a visionary research center with flexible research facilities for the multidisciplinary faculty and students. BU administrators and Boston city officials were joined by the design team and community members to mark the start of construction. "Boston University has emerged as a major private research university in a relatively short period of time in the last few decades, and it was not by accident. It was by intentional design, much like the design that went into this facility," BU president Robert Brown said at the ground-breaking ceremony. Facilitating collaborative interdisciplinary research efforts for which adjacent space is essential, the Center will be a major addition to BU's physical infrastructure and will accommodate seven key areas of research: photonics, synthetic and systems biology, systems neuroscience, data science, global health, urban health and infectious disease. "Arup is pleased to be on Payette's team to realize Boston University's vision for this leading-edge project that sets new standards for resiliency, sustainability and collaborative research space," says Julian Astbury, project director and associate principal in Arup's Boston office. As part of the engineering design team, Arup is implementing smart-building techniques to achieve client goals of energy efficiency, sustainability, environmental protection, and end-user comfort. Arup is providing mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineering, sustainability, and IT/Communications consulting. Arup's clients in science span academic, institutional and corporate sectors, bringing best practice from sector to sector to help clients create more cost-effective, sustainable and adaptable facilities. Projects include the UMass Lowell Health and Social Sciences Building, Northeastern University Integrated Science and Engineering Complex, Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering at Rutgers University, College of Health Professions at Sacred Heart University, Westfield State College's new Science Center, and Brown University's Building for Environmental Research and Teaching. Arup is the creative force at the heart of many of the world's most prominent projects in the built environment and across industry. Its engineers and consultants deliver innovative projects across the world. Arup opened its first US office 25 years ago, and now employs 1,000 in the Americas. The firm was founded in 1946 with an enduring set of values that fosters a distinctive culture, intellectual independence and collaborative approach. The people at Arup are driven to find a better way to deliver better solutions for their clients.