university of new mexico school of engineering experimental wet labs

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

The UNM School of Engineering Wet Labs project provides new engineering research lab spaces for the Chemical and Biological Engineering and Nuclear Engineering Departments. The project includes spaces for resident assistants and seven diverse experimental laboratories: the Plasma and Thin Films Laboratory, the Bio-Engineering Laboratory, the Colloids and Interfaces Laboratory, the Thermal Hydraulics Laboratory Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies, the Micro-Engineered Materials Laboratory, the Catalysis Laboratory, and the Radiation Detector Development Laboratory.

Servicing this network of laboratories, M+Y designed a new 3-story laboratory exhaust air shaft and an array of new rooftop exhaust fans, complying with the use and safety requirements of the heavy use of hazardous chemicals within an existing building.

During the design process, M+Y conducted the LEED Thermal Comfort Survey with existing building occupants, collecting feedback from them regarding local HVAC control settings. M+Y then worked with MEPT engineers from Bridgers & Paxton, as well as the UNM commissioning agent, to ensure that final control settings on exhaust fans were at an appropriate, comfortable level and worked according to planned sequences. 

The UNM School of Engineering Wet Labs project achieved LEED Silver status.