New Facility to Address Miller School's Burgeoning Need for Lab Space

click to view more photos

The Miller School's explosive growth has created a burgeoning need for additional laboratory space, and school officials have moved expeditiously to fill the void. As a result, construction crews have started work on a two story wet lab research building that's expected to come online in March.

Located on the medical campus' southeasterm-most corner, in the east parking lot of the Sieron Building, the modern facility will open its doors just in time to keep up with the more than 100 new recruits hired by Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., over the last years.

Dean Goldschmidt's efforts have complimented the University of Miami's stated goal of moving up the NII research rankings. The new web lab space is slated to house between 10 and 15 faculty laboratories, including space for newly recruited fundamental discovery and physician scientists. In addition, it will serve as swing space for the growing needs of current Miller School faculty as existing lab spaces around the medical camps are upgraded.

The 23,000-square foot facility will augment a new nine story 188,000 square foot Biomedical Research Building that's scheduled to open in February.

"By taking advantage of new building technologies, we can construct great modern labs and make them available in the shortest time frame possible," Richard J. Bookman, Ph.D., Miller School executive dean for research and research training, says of the wet lab. "That, in turn, allows us to keep moving our research enterprise forward."

Situated on the eastern half of Northwest 10th Avenue, on the opposite side of the thoroughfare from the Biomedical Research building site, the wet lab will be constructed of concrete and steel built to withstand a Category 4 hurricane. the new two-story facility will be approved for the storage and manipulation of Biosafety Level 2 materials.

The quest to secure additional medical campus lab space doesn't end with the wet lab, says Jeff Mosely, executive director for real estate facilities, design and construction at the Miller School. "We are exploring a variety of options, including existing lab renovations as well as leasing options for lab and lab support spaces within the Health District. We continue to explore spaces that can be effectively and efficiently built out to support the growing biomedical research enterprise."

According to Mosely, several options are being considered, including possibly converting 12,000 square feet inside the new parking garage on the medical campus' east side.

________________________________
Source / University of Miami
Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
eUpdate
Weekly News for Faculty & Staff