California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Cal IT2), Irvine

UC Irvine's Cal IT2 project provides 69,000 assignable sq. ft. within approximately 120,000 gross sq. ft. and consists of research laboratories, office, and support space dedicated to teams of faculty, students, and research professionals. The $40-million building is designed as a four-story structure with two wings joined by a full-height atrium/lobby.

The main wing houses Class-1000 clean rooms for polymer and silicon MEMS and packaging on the first floor, and miscellaneous computational labs and offices on the upper floors. The clean rooms are designed within a 22-ft. structural module to accommodate efficient 11-ft. lab modules. The smaller wing houses a conference/teleconference facility for up to 80 persons at the ground level, a flexible media arts studio space on the second floor, and the director's office Suite on the upper floors.

The major challenge of designing and constructing Cal IT2 was the university's use of a bridging design/build project delivery method. Johnson Fain was commissioned by UC Irvine to develop the detailed project program and the design/build bridging documents. The university then hired the design/build team of PCL Construction Services and Leo A Daly to complete the construction documents and build the project.

The design/build team assembled a group of consultants and subcontractors who understood UCI's goals and challenges of the design. Major building components included massing and fenestration, major architectural materials and detailing, the organization and finish of the public spaces, the structural frame configuration and the general layout of the building systems.

PCL/Daly recognized that the success of the project depended on continuing the design process begun by Johnson Fain. Leo A Daly team members first met with Scott Johnson and his design team to understand the overall vision for the project. Daly then challenged the design/build team to maintain the vision without compromise, while applying their expertise to provide the university with a building of the highest quality, energy- and resource-efficiency that reflected a commitment to the well-being of the occupants.

Cal IT2 is among the first of the California Institutes for Science and Innovation, chartered by the state in late 2000.

Owner's Comments:

"The research conducted in this facility will produce the foundation to generate new products, services and expertise that will shape tomorrow's marketplace. Faculty, students, visiting scholars and industry partners can conduct collaborative research…that will [ultimately] benefit California's-and the nation's-economy."
-Ralph J. Cicerone, chancellor , UC Irvine

Project Team:

Owner: UC Irvine
Design architect: Johnson Fain
Design/build architect: Leo A Daly
General contractor: PCL Construction Services
Engineering team: Structural: Nabih Youssef & Associates
M/P: Capitol Engineering
Electrical: Levine Seegel
Civil: Boyle Engineering
Key consultants and subcontractors:
Anderson & Howard Electric (electrical)
Class-One Technology Inc. (clean rooms)
Control Air Conditioning Corp. (HVAC)
DavCal Inc. (drywall)
Dow Diversified Inc. (laboratory equipment)
Link-Nilsen Corp. (fire protection)
Montgomery Hardware Co. (wood, doors, hardware)
Murray Co. (plumbing)
Pacific Architectural Millwork
Premier Tile and Marble
R&R Masonry Inc.
Tajima Corp. (ornamental metals)
Tower Glass Inc.
ValleyCrest Landscape
Davis Langdon Adamson (cost estimating)
Melendrez Design Partners (landscape)
Lerch Bates (vertical transportation)
Veneklassen (acoustics)
Eriksen-Rattan & Assoc. (codes)

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