William Eckhardt Research Center at the University of Chicago

The William Eckhardt Research Center is a seven-floor, 277,000-square-foot state-of-the-art building at the University of Chicago. Home to the Institute for Molecular Engineering and several world-renowned research groups within the Division of Physical Sciences, the center is a unique facility for cutting-edge education and research. It also boasts the Pritzker Nanofabrication Facility cleanroom, physics laboratories and bio-chemistry wet labs.

STV provided project management staff augmentation services during the construction of this $215 million facility. The team developed crucial relationships with various project team members and worked seamlessly in support of the owner’s on-site team by coordinating vendors, processing approvals, and supporting facility staff and internal stakeholders through quality, cost and schedule oversight. In addition to providing consultation for the resolution of several building envelope issues, the firm’s value-added services included serving as the prime manager for the construction of the new 1.3-acre North Science Quadrangle, as well as management of the design and incorporation of a remote liquid nitrogen farm with underground piping, located west of the new center. This included landscaping, paving, underground storm water retention, bicycle parking, lighting, and security upgrades. STV also managed the build out of a café off the main lobby.