Primera is proud to announce that our Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center (SQBRC) project at Northwestern University has recently achieved LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Code Council. The SQBRC is located adjacent to the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center in the former location of Prentice Women’s Hospital in downtown Chicago. The program included a significant amount of research labs and vivarium space, as well as meeting and event space. Since its grand re-opening in June 2019, the research center has been praised for its environmentally responsible design and construction practices. The most notable sustainable practices used include: reducing water and energy usage, using 20% recycled construction materials, installing an innovative green and blue roof system for heat and stormwater management, constructing space-saving laboratories to reduce the building’s total footprint, and installing a new skybridge connecting to the University’s Robert H. Lurie Biomedical Research Center for safe movement of sensitive research equipment.

The project was divided into two 600,000 square foot phases, with Phase One containing all the necessary infrastructure to support the future Phase Two addition. Primera provided extensive Fire Protection design services on the project including the design of low and mid-zone fire pump assemblies, multi-zone standpipe and sprinkler systems, and provisions for future Phase Two high-zone fire protection systems. A dry system was designed to protect the interior loading dock and preaction and special hazard systems were implemented on a case by case basis to protect sensitive research labs and equipment. The Fire Protection design was coordinated to meet the standards of the City of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University insurance carrier, as well as the National Institute of Health, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and Illinois environmental requirements for biomedical and animal research labs.